BEGGARS ON HORSEBACK. 



of climate ; but though we were hardly In a con- 

 dition to appreciate the balm of mid -June that 

 was coming up from the pastures, we could not 

 wish it to be chilled. 



Striding up the lower fields, with an ardour 

 that we recognised compassionately as having 

 once been ours, were two tourists, a middle- 

 aged gentleman and his daughter. They paused 

 as they met us, to unburden themselves of a 

 kindly platitude or two about the weather ; and 

 it is still on Miss O'Flannigan's conscience that 

 she gave these harmless wayfarers careful parti- 

 culars as to Griffith Roberts's short cut, and re- 

 ceived their gratitude without compunction. 



Shortly after this incident it was that we met 

 the postmaster of Rhyddu communing alone with 

 nature— a very noble-looking person, in a costume 

 modelled upon that of the most sumptuous tourist. 

 Considering how far we were from the ideal female 

 of the species, he treated us with unexpected affa- 

 bility, even giving himself the trouble of accom- 

 panying us back to the village, favouring us 



