CHAPTER XXIV.
Cerrig y Drudion--The Landlady--Doctor Jones--Coll Gwynfa--The Italian--Men of Como--Disappointment--Weather--Glasses--Southey.
The inn at Cerrig y Drudion was called the Lion--whether the white, black, red or green Lion, I do not know, though I am certain that it was a lion of some colour or other.

It seemed as decent and respectable a hostelry as any traveller could wish, to refresh and repose himself in, after a walk of twenty miles.

I entered a well-lighted passage, and from thence a well-lighted bar room, on the right hand, in which sat a stout, comely, elderly lady, dressed in silks and satins, with a cambric coif on her head, in company with a thin, elderly man with a hat on his head, dressed in a rather prim and precise manner.

"Madam!" said I, bowing to the lady, "as I suppose you are the mistress of this establishment, I beg leave to inform you that I am an Englishman, walking through these regions, in order fully to enjoy their beauties and wonders.

I have this day come from Llangollen, and being somewhat hungry and fatigued, hope I can be accommodated here with a dinner and a bed." "Sir!" said the lady, getting up and making me a profound curtsey, "I am, as you suppose, the mistress of this establishment, and am happy to say that I shall be able to accommodate you--pray sit down, sir;" she continued, handing me a chair, "you must indeed be tired, for Llangollen is a great way from here." I took the seat with thanks, and she resumed her own.
"Rather hot weather for walking, sir!" said the precise-looking gentleman.
"It is," said I; "but as I can't observe the country well without walking through it, I put up with the heat." "You exhibit a philosophic mind, sir," said the precise-looking gentleman--"and a philosophic mind I hold in reverence." "Pray, sir," said I, "have I the honour of addressing a member of the medical profession ?" "Sir," said the precise-looking gentleman, getting up and making me a bow, "your question does honour to your powers of discrimination--a member of the medical profession I am, though an unworthy one." "Nay, nay, doctor," said the landlady briskly; "say not so--every one knows that you are a credit to your profession--well would it be if there were many in it like you--unworthy?
marry come up! I won't hear such an expression." "I see," said I, "that I have not only the honour of addressing a medical gentleman, but a doctor of medicine--however, I might have known as much by your language and deportment." With a yet lower bow than before he replied with something of a sigh, "No, sir, no, our kind landlady and the neighbourhood are in the habit of placing doctor before my name, but I have no title to it--I am not Doctor Jones, sir, but plain Geffery Jones at your service," and thereupon with another bow he sat down.
"Do you reside here ?" said I.
"Yes, sir, I reside here in the place of my birth--I have not always resided here--and I did not always expect to spend my latter days in a place of such obscurity, but, sir, misfortunes--misfortunes.