第 93 节
作者:随便看看      更新:2021-02-25 00:47      字数:9322
  Jones。  He had a muffler round his neck; and walked rather slowly
  and disconsolately; leaning upon a cane。  He passed without
  appearing to recognise me; and I; thinking it would be as well to
  defer claiming acquaintance with him till I had put myself a little
  to rights; went out without saying anything to him。  I was shown by
  the freckled maid to a nice sleeping apartment; where I stayed some
  time adjusting myself。  On my return to the coffee…room I found the
  doctor sitting near the fire…place。  The stout man had left the
  room。  I had no doubt that he had told Doctor Jones that I had
  claimed acquaintance with him; and that the doctor; not having
  recollected me; had denied that he knew anything of me; for I
  observed that he looked at me very suspiciously。
  I took my former seat; and after a minute's silence said to Doctor
  Jones; 〃I think; sir; I had the pleasure of seeing you some time
  ago at Cerrig Drudion?〃
  〃It's possible; sir;〃 said Doctor Jones in a tone of considerable
  hauteur; and tossing his head so that the end of his chin was above
  his comforter; 〃but I have no recollection of it。〃
  I held my head down for a little time; then raising it and likewise
  my forefinger; I looked Doctor Jones full in the face and said;
  〃Don't you remember talking to me about Owen Pugh and Coll Gwynfa?〃
  〃Yes; I do;〃 said Doctor Jones in a very low voice; like that of a
  person who deliberates; 〃yes; I do。  I remember you perfectly;
  sir;〃 he added almost immediately in a tone of some animation; 〃you
  are the gentleman with whom I had a very interesting conversation
  one evening last summer in the bar of the inn at Cerrig Drudion。  I
  regretted very much that our conversation was rather brief; but I
  was called away to attend to a case; a professional case; sir; of
  some delicacy; and I have since particularly regretted that I was
  unable to return that night; as it would have given me much
  pleasure to have been present at a dialogue; which I have been told
  by my friend the landlady; you held with a certain Italian who was
  staying at the house; which was highly agreeable and instructive to
  herself and her daughter。〃
  〃Well;〃 said I; 〃I am rejoiced that fate has brought us together
  again。  How have you been in health since I had the pleasure of
  seeing you?〃
  〃Rather indifferent; sir; rather indifferent。  I have of late been
  afflicted with several ailments; the original cause of which; I
  believe; was a residence of several years in the Ynysoedd y
  Gorllewin … the West India Islands … where I had the honour of
  serving her present gracious Majesty's gracious uncle; George the
  Fourth … in a medical capacity; sir。  I have likewise been
  afflicted with lowness of spirits; sir。  It was this same lowness
  of spirits which induced me to accept an invitation made by the
  individual lately in the room to accompany him in a vehicle with
  some other people to Bala。  I shall always consider my coming as a
  fortunate circumstance; inasmuch as it has given me an opportunity
  of renewing my acquaintance with you。〃
  〃Pray;〃 said I; 〃may I take the liberty of asking who that
  individual is?〃
  〃Why;〃 said Doctor Jones; 〃he is what they call a Wolverhampton
  gent。〃
  〃A Wolverhampton gent;〃 said I to myself; 〃only think!〃
  〃Were you pleased to make any observation; sir?〃 said the doctor。
  〃I was merely saying something to myself;〃 said I。  〃And in what
  line of business may he be?  I suppose in the hog line。〃
  〃Oh no!〃 said Doctor Jones。  〃His father; it is true; is a hog…
  merchant; but as for himself he follows no business; he is what is
  called a fast young man; and goes about here and there on the
  spree; as I think they term it; drawing; whenever he wants money;
  upon his father; who is in affluent circumstances。  Some time ago
  he came to Cerrig Drudion; and was so much pleased with the place;
  the landlady; and her daughters; that he has made it his
  headquarters ever since。  Being frequently at the house I formed an
  acquaintance with him; and have occasionally made one in his
  parties and excursions; though I can't say I derive much pleasure
  from his conversation; for he is a person of little or no
  literature。〃
  〃The son of a hog…merchant;〃 thought I to myself。  〃Depend upon it;
  that immense fellow whom I saw in my dream purchase the big hog at
  Llangollen fair; and who wanted me to give him a poond for his
  bargain; was this gent's father。  Oh; there is much more in dreams
  than is generally dreamt of by philosophy!〃
  Doctor Jones presently began to talk of Welsh literature; and we
  were busily engaged in discussing the subject when in walked the
  fast young man; causing the floor to quake beneath his ponderous
  tread。  He looked rather surprised at seeing the doctor and me
  conversing; but Doctor Jones turning to him; said; 〃Oh; I remember
  this gentleman perfectly。〃
  〃Oh!〃 said the fast young man; 〃very good!〃 then flinging himself
  down in a chair with a force that nearly broke it; and fixing his
  eyes upon me; said; 〃I think I remember the gentleman too。  If I am
  not much mistaken; sir; you are one of our principal engineers at
  Wolverhampton。  Oh yes!  I remember you now perfectly。  The last
  time I saw you was at a public dinner given to you at
  Wolverhampton; and there you made a speech; and a capital speech it
  was。〃
  Just as I was about to reply Doctor Jones commenced speaking Welsh;
  resuming the discourse on Welsh literature。  Before; however; he
  had uttered a dozen words he was interrupted by the Wolverhampton
  gent; who exclaimed in a blubbering tone:  〃O Lord; you are surely
  not going to speak Welsh。  If I had thought I was to be bothered
  with Welsh I wouldn't have asked you to come。〃
  〃If I spoke Welsh; sir;〃 said the doctor; 〃it was out of compliment
  to this gentleman; who is a proficient in the ancient language of
  my country。  As; however; you dislike Welsh; I shall carry on the
  conversation with him in English; though peradventure you may not
  be more edified by it in that language than if it were held in
  Welsh。〃
  He then proceeded to make some very excellent remarks on the
  history of the Gwedir family; written by Sir John Wynn; to which
  the Wolverhampton gent listened with open mouth and staring eyes。
  My dinner now made its appearance; brought in by the little
  freckled maid … the cloth had been laid during my absence from the
  room。  I had just begun to handle my knife and fork; Doctor Jones
  still continuing his observations on the history of the Gwedir
  family; when I heard a carriage drive up to the inn; and almost
  immediately after; two or three young fellows rollicked into the
  room:  〃Come let's be off;〃 said one of them to the Wolverhampton
  gent; 〃the carriage is ready。〃  〃I'm glad of it;〃 said the fast
  young man; 〃for it's rather slow work here。  Come; doctor! are you
  going with us or do you intend to stay here all night?〃  Thereupon
  the doctor got up; and coming towards me leaning on his cane; said:
  〃Sir! it gives me infinite pleasure that I have met a second time a
  gentleman of so much literature。  That we shall ever meet a third
  time I may wish but can scarcely hope; owing to certain ailments
  under which I suffer; brought on; sir; by a residence of many years
  in the Occidental Indies。  However; at all events; I wish you
  health and happiness。〃  He then shook me gently by the hand and
  departed with the Wolverhampton gent and his companions; the gent
  as he stumped out of the room saying; 〃Good…night; sir; I hope it
  will not be long before I see you at another public dinner at
  Wolverhampton; and hear another speech from you as good as the
  last。〃  In a minute or two I heard them drive off。  Left to myself
  I began to discuss my dinner。  Of the dinner I had nothing to
  complain; but the ale which accompanied it was very bad。  This was
  the more mortifying; for; remembering the excellent ale I had drunk
  at Bala some months previously; I had; as I came along the gloomy
  roads the present evening; been promising myself a delicious treat
  on my arrival。
  〃This is very bad ale!〃 said I to the freckled maid; 〃very
  different from what I drank in the summer; when I was waited on by
  Tom Jenkins。〃
  〃It is the same ale; sir;〃 said the maid; 〃but the last in the
  cask; and we shan't have any more for six months; when he will come
  again to brew for the summer; but we have very good porter; sir;
  and first…rate Allsopp。〃
  〃Allsopp's ale;〃 said I; 〃will do for July and August; but scarcely
  for the end of October。  However; bring me a pint; I prefer it at
  all times to porter。〃
  My dinner concluded; I trifled away my time till about ten o'clock;
  and then went to bed。
  CHAPTER LXXIII
  Breakfast … The Freckled Maid … Llan uwch Llyn … The Landlady …
  Llewarch Hen … Conversions to the Church。
  AWAKING occasionally in the night I heard much storm and rain。  The
  following morning it was gloomy and lowering。  As it was Sunday I
  determined to pass the day at Bala; and accordingly took my Prayer
  Book out of my satchel; and also my single white shirt; which I put
  on。
  Having dressed myself I went to the coffee…room an