t not but we shall," said
Peter; "Winifred shall have some of thy flitch cooked for dinner. In the
meantime, sit down, young man, and breakfast at our expense--we will dine
at thine."

On the evening of that day, Peter and myself sat alone beneath the oak.
We fell into conversation; Peter was at first melancholy, but he soon
became more cheerful, fluent and entertaining. I spoke but little, but I
observed that sometimes what I said surprised the good Methodist. We had
been silent some time. At length, lifting up my eyes to the broad and
leafy canopy of the trees, I said, having nothing better to remark, "What
a noble tree! I wonder if the fairies ever dance beneath it?"

"Fairies!" said Peter, "fairies! how came you, young man, to know
anything about the fair family?"

"I am an Englishman," said I, "and of course know something about
fairies; England was once a famous place for them."

"Was once, I grant you," said Peter, "but is so no longer. I have
travelled for years about England, and never heard them mentioned before;
the belief in them has died away, and even their name seems to be
forgotten. If you had said you were a Welshman, I should not have been
surprised. The Welsh have much to say of the _Tylwyth Teg_, or fair
family, and many believe in them."

"And do you believe in them?" said I.

"I scarcely know what to say. Wise and good men have been of opinion
that they are nothing but devils, who, under the form of pretty and
amiable spirits, would fain allure poor human beings; I see nothing
irrational in the supposition."

"Do you believe in devils, then?"

"Do I believe in devils, young man!" said Peter, and his frame was shaken
as if by convulsions. "If I do not believe in devils, why am I here at
the present moment?"

"You know best," said I; "but I don't believe that fairies are devils,
and I don't wish to hear them insulted. What learned men have said they
are devils?"

"Many have said it, young man, and, amongst others, Master Ellis Wyn, in
that wonderful book of his, the _Bardd Cwsg_."

"The _Bardd Cwsg_," said I; "what kind of book is that? I have never
heard of that book before."

"Heard of it before; I suppose not; how should you have heard of it
before! By-the-bye, can you read?"

"Very tolerably," said I; "so there are fairies in this book. What do
you call it--the _Bardd Cwsg_?"

"Yes, the _Bardd Cwsg_. You pronounce Welsh very fairly; have you ever
been in Wales?"