"Have you any business there?" said he.
"No," I replied, "I am travelling the country, and shall only put
up there for the night"
"You had better stay here," said the young fellow. "You will be
better accommodated here than at the 'Pump Saint.'"
"Very likely," said I; "but I have resolved to go there, and when I
once make a resolution I never alter it."
Then bidding him good evening I departed. Had I formed no
resolution at all about stopping at the 'Pump Saint,' I certainly
should not have stayed in this house, which had all the appearance
of a trampers' hostelry, and though I am very fond of the
conversation of trampers, who are the only people from whom you can
learn anything, I would much rather have the benefit of it abroad
than in their own lairs. A little farther down I met a woman
coming up the ascent. She was tolerably respectably dressed,
seemed about five-and-thirty, and was rather good-looking. She
walked somewhat slowly, which was probably more owing to a large
bundle which she bore in her hand than to her path being up-hill.
"Good evening," said I, stopping.
"Good evening, your honour," said she, stopping and brightly
panting.
"Do you come from far?" said I.
"Not very far, your honour, but quite far enough for a poor feeble
woman."
"Are you Welsh?" said I.
