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became rather tired of this； and getting up； strolled about the
little village by moonlight till I felt disposed to retire to rest；
when returning to the inn； I begged to be shown the room in which I
was to sleep。 Mrs Pritchard forthwith taking a candle conducted me
to a small room upstairs。 There were two beds in it。 The good
lady pointing to one； next the window； in which there were nice
clean sheets； told me that was the one which I was to occupy； and
bidding me good…night； and leaving the candle； departed。 Putting
out the light I got into bed； but instantly found that the bed was
not long enough by at least a foot。 〃I shall pass an uncomfortable
night；〃 said I； 〃for I never yet could sleep comfortably in a bed
too short。 However； as I am on my travels； I must endeavour to
accommodate myself to circumstances。〃 So I endeavoured to compose
myself to sleep； before； however； I could succeed； I heard the
sound of stumping steps coming upstairs； and perceived a beam of
light through the crevices of the door； and in a moment more the
door opened and in came two loutish farming lads whom I had
observed below； one of them bearing a rushlight stuck into an old
blacking…bottle。 Without saying a word they flung off part of
their clothes； and one of them having blown out the rushlight； they
both tumbled into bed； and in a moment were snoring most
sonorously。 〃I am in a short bed；〃 said I； 〃and have snorers close
by me； I fear I shall have a sorry night of it。〃 I determined；
however； to adhere to my resolution of making the best of
circumstances； and lay perfectly quiet； listening to the snorings
as they rose and fell； at last they became more gentle and I fell
asleep； notwithstanding my feet were projecting some way from the
bed。 I might have lain ten minutes or a quarter of an hour when I
suddenly started up in the bed broad awake。 There was a great
noise below the window of plunging and struggling interspersed with
Welsh oaths。 Then there was a sound as if of a heavy fall； and
presently a groan。 〃I shouldn't wonder；〃 said I； 〃if that fellow
with the horse has verified my words； and has either broken his
horse's neck or his own。 However； if he has； he has no one to
blame but himself。 I gave him fair warning； and shall give myself
no further trouble about the matter； but go to sleep；〃 and so I
did。
CHAPTER XXXV
Brilliant Morning … Travelling with Edification … A Good Clergyman
… Gybi。
I AWOKE about six o'clock in the morning； having passed the night
much better than I anticipated。 The sun was shining bright and
gloriously into the apartment。 On looking into the other bed I
found that my chums； the young farm…labourers； had deserted it。
They were probably already in the field busy at labour。 After
lying a little time longer I arose； dressed myself and went down。
I found my friend honest Pritchard smoking his morning pipe at the
front door； and after giving him the sele of the day； I inquired of
him the cause of the disturbance beneath my window the night
before； and learned that the man of the horse had been thrown by
the animal off its back； that the horse almost immediately after
had slipped down； and both had been led home very much hurt。 We
then talked about farming and the crops； and at length got into a
discourse about Liverpool。 I asked him how he liked that mighty
seaport； he said very well； but that he did not know much about it
… for though he had a house there where his family had resided； he
had not lived much at Liverpool himself； his absences from that
place having been many and long。
〃Have you travelled then much about England？〃 said I。
〃No；〃 he replied。 〃When I have travelled it has chiefly been
across the sea to foreign places。〃
〃But what foreign places have you visited？〃 said I。
〃I have visited；〃 said Pritchard； 〃Constantinople； Alexandria； and
some other cities in the south latitudes。〃
〃Dear me；〃 said I； 〃you have seen some of the most celebrated
places in the world … and yet you were silent； and said nothing
about your travels whilst that fellow Bos was pluming himself at
having been at such places as Northampton and Worcester； the haunts
of shoe…makers and pig…jobbers。〃
〃Ah；〃 said Pritchard； 〃but Mr Bos has travelled with edification；
it is a fine thing to have travelled when one has done so with
edification； but I have not。 There is a vast deal of difference
between me and him … he is considered the 'cutest man in these
parts； and is much looked up to。〃
〃You are really；〃 said I； 〃the most modest person I have ever known
and the least addicted to envy。 Let me see whether you have
travelled without edification。〃
I then questioned him about the places which he had mentioned； and
found he knew a great deal about them； amongst other things he
described Cleopatra's needle； and the At Maidan at Constantinople
with surprising exactness。
〃You put me out；〃 said I； 〃you consider yourself inferior to that
droving fellow Bos； and to have travelled without edification；
whereas you know a thousand times more than he； and indeed much
more than many a person who makes his five hundred a year by going
about lecturing on foreign places； but as I am no flatterer I will
tell you that you have a fault which will always prevent your
rising in this world； you have modesty； those who have modesty
shall have no advancement； whilst those who can blow their own horn
lustily； shall be made governors。 But allow me to ask you in what
capacity you went abroad？〃
〃As engineer to various steamships；〃 said Pritchard。
〃A director of the power of steam；〃 said I； 〃and an explorer of the
wonders of Iscander's city willing to hold the candle to Mr Bos。 I
will tell you what； you are too good for this world； let us hope
you will have your reward in the next。〃
I breakfasted and asked for my bill； the bill amounted to little or
nothing … half…a…crown I think for tea…dinner； sundry jugs of ale；
bed and breakfast。 I defrayed it； and then inquired whether it
would be possible for me to see the inside of the church。
〃Oh yes；〃 said Pritchard。 〃I can let you in； for I am churchwarden
and have the key。〃
The church was a little edifice of some antiquity； with a little
wing and without a spire； it was situated amidst a grove of trees。
As we stood with our hats off in the sacred edifice； I asked
Pritchard if there were many Methodists in those parts。
〃Not so many as there were；〃 said Pritchard； 〃they are rapidly
decreasing； and indeed dissenters in general。 The cause of their
decrease is that a good clergyman has lately come here； who visits
the sick and preaches Christ； and in fact does his duty。 If all
our clergymen were like him there would not be many dissenters in
Ynis Fon。〃
Outside the church； in the wall； I observed a tablet with the
following inscription in English。
Here lieth interred the body of Ann； wife of Robert Paston； who
deceased the sixth day of October； Anno Domini。
1671。
P。
R。 A。
〃You seem struck with that writing？〃 said Pritchard； observing that
I s