BEGGARS ON HORSEBACK. 63 



efficient manner. In the first place, a parasol 

 was bought from the leading draper, a pink silk 

 one, reduced from three-and-nine to two shillings, 

 on account of the places where it had faded 

 yellow. It was certainly a bargain, and an hour 

 afterwards . the barometer began to fall, very 

 slightly, but sufficiently to show intelligence. 

 Next morning the heat was still supreme, but 

 this was in order that we might spend another 

 two shillings on puggarees, after which the 

 barometer fell a little more. 



The shops of Dolgelly have the great advantage 

 of a street on all four sides of each house, each 

 standing "a tower of strength, four square, to 

 every wind that blew," so that bread, boots, 

 millinery, vegetables, and patent medicines can 

 command each a window, great or small ; and 

 the shopkeeper stands, Argus-eyed, in the centre, 

 and caters for the enigmatic needs of tourists, 

 much as a missionary might prepare glass beads 

 for the Central African. Each shopkeeper knows 

 his customers, to the last farmer's wife ; they 



