BEGGARS ON HORSEBACK. 



yard came at last to our relief, like good news 

 from a far country, and with the activity of a 

 hunting morning we made our exit in the wake 

 of the waitress, who, at the Royal Oak, as at 

 many other Welsh inns, has worthily replaced 

 the waiter and the cheerless glory of his even- 

 ing suit. The needed fillip had been given ; the 

 present moment, with its release and its ponies, 

 sparkled suddenly, and that Wales which the old 

 Yorkshire woman found so " dool " by comparison 

 with Scarborough, lay awaiting us in restored 

 glamour. 



The large, clean yard, with its respectable coach- 

 ing and fox-hunting associations, was acquiring a 

 new experience. The loafers had detached them- 

 selves from the lamp-post, the tide of commerce 

 had flowed from the shops to stand round the 

 stable doors, and discuss in the guttural, shrewish 

 Welsh tongue what manner of she-yeomanry they 

 might be who thus requisitioned Welshpool ponies 

 for their own undivulged purposes. There was a 

 dead silence as we came forth, hobbling and 



