size, his purse, and his remarkable appearance and qualities put his
casual hosts very much at a disadvantage, and he is thus led to
exaggerate what suspiciousness he observed.

His success is all the more wonderful when his position and his almost
total lack of condescension and concession are considered, but considered
they must be. When he met a Welsh clergyman who could talk about the
Welsh language, Huw Morus and ale, he said nothing about him except that
he was "a capital specimen of the Welsh country clergyman. His name was
Walter Jones." Too often he merely got answers to his questions, which
break up his pages in an agreeable manner, but do little more. In such
conversations we should fare ill indeed if one of the parties were not
Borrow, and even as it is, he can be tedious beyond the limits necessary
for truth. I will give an example:

"After a little time I entered into conversation with my guide. He had
not a word of English. 'Are you married?' said I.

"'In truth I am, sir.'

"'What family have you?'

"'I have a daughter.'

"'Where do you live?'

"'At the house of the Rhyadr.'

"'I suppose you live there as servant?'