142 



BEGGARS ON HORSEBACK. 



with two red comforters, such as are worn by 

 virtuous woodmen in coloured almanacs, and 

 with a bag of biscuits (bought at the opposite 

 counter), we retired into the 

 rain through a doorway gar- 

 nished with alarming sac- 

 rifices in flannelettes and 

 elastic-sided boots, and 

 hardened our hearts for 

 the road. 



Bettwys-y-Coed was 

 \^ twelve miles away, 



or even more, as the 

 landlady warned 

 us with what we 

 hope was disin- 

 terested zeal for 

 our welfare ; but 

 even twelve 

 miles in the rain seemed preferable to the ladies' 

 drawing - room with the photograph - books and 

 the view into the first floor above the opposite 



'■'■We retired into the rain. 



