PAGE
[SHE SAT ON THE TOP OF AN "EMPRESS" COTTAGE STOVE][4]
[THE OBLIGING IRONMONGER][5]
["HE ISS A LITTLE UNUSED TO THE TOWN, MARM"][14]
[PACKING THE "HOLD-ALLS"][21]
[THE FAT OSTLER BOY][27]
[THE FIRST FLIES][30]
[NEXT MORNING MISS O’FLANNIGAN WENT OUT SKETCHING][33]
["A YOUTH OF SHOP-WALKER BEAUTY, IN THE GUISE OF A FISHERMAN"][43]
["WE CAUGHT A GLIMPSE OF A GREY BEARD AND A TYROLEAN HAT"][45]
[A DARK-FACED KELT][47]
["MISS O’FLANNIGAN’S HAIR CAME DOWN"][51]
[HE WAS DRAGGED BY MISS O’FLANNIGAN DOWN THE IMMEASURABLE LENGTHS OF STEEP ROAD][57]
[THE SEXTONESS OF DOLGELLY][67]
[THE TOURIST AT THE GRAPES INN, MAENTYWROG][75]
[BETWEEN TRAWSFYNYDD AND MAENTYWROG][77]
[MISS O’FLANNIGAN MADE A SKETCH FROM TOM’S BACK][79]
["LUNE DE MIEL" BEDDGELERT][85]
[THE SNOWDON GUIDE OUTSIDE THE PARLOUR WINDOW][91]
[HALF-WAY MISS O’FLANNIGAN EXTENDED HERSELF AT FULL LENGTH ON SOME CONTIGUOUS BOULDERS][99]
[THE ASCENT OF SNOWDON][105]
["THE SPEAKER PERMITTED TO HIMSELF A DRAMATIC YAWN"][111]
["A COSTUME MODELLED ON THAT OF THE MOST SUMPTUOUS TOURIST"][122]
[THE COOK AT RHYDDU][124]
[THE ASCENT OF THE DEANS][132]
["TWO OR THREE STARTLED, AUDACIOUS PONY FACES PEERING ROUND A PILE OF BOULDERS"][133]
["WE RETIRED INTO THE RAIN"][142]
["I CLUTCHED THE SURFACE OF THE ROAD"][149]
["THE PARAPET OF THE WOODED PRECIPICE, FROM WHOSE EDGE WE WERE LOOKING BACK"][157]
["THREE TALL WOMEN, DRESSED ALIKE IN WIDOWS' WEEDS"][162]
[A FINAL SALUTE][183]
[VISITORS' BOOK][186]

“Well, I’m not exactly sure,” said the ironmonger, gazing out into the glaring street through a doorway festooned with tin mugs and gridirons, “but I think it was the gentleman as played the kettle-drum that rode him.” His eyes seemed to follow some half-remembered pageant, though outwardly they rested on the languid salutations of the saddler’s dog and the hotel collie on the opposite pavement.

Miss O’Flannigan, who looked and was too hot for conversation, remained impassive where she sat, on the top of an “Empress” cottage stove, with her gaze fixed on the zinc pails that hung like Chinese lanterns from the ceiling.

“Unfortunately we shall not take a kettle-drum,” I replied, hesitatingly.

“Well, no, of course,” admitted the ironmonger; “but I assure you that a pony that’s bin in the yeomanry band won’t be partikler as to traction-engines or sech. You ladies could play any instrument when ridin’ ’im.”

Miss O’Flannigan laughed sardonically from the “Empress” stove, and Mr Griffiths’ attitude of mild bewilderment changed to wounded dignity.

“Perhaps Mr Williams, the chemist, could oblige you with sech animals as you require,” he said, with the stiffness of one of his own swing-door hinges; “but there isn’t sech a cob in Welshpool as what my cob is.”