st abutting upon it. A kind of farm-yard was
before them. A respectable-looking woman was standing in the yard. I
went up to her and inquired the name of the place.

"These houses, sir," said she, "are called Tai Hirion Mignaint. Look
over that door and you will see T. H. which letters stand for Tai Hirion.
Mignaint is the name of the place where they stand."

I looked, and upon a stone which formed the lintel of the middlemost door
I read "T. H 1630."

The words Tai Hirion it will be as well to say signify the long houses.

I looked long and steadfastly at the inscription, my mind full of
thoughts of the past.

"Many a year has rolled by since these houses were built," said I, as I
sat down on a stepping-stone.

"Many indeed, sir," said the woman, "and many a strange thing has
happened."

"Did you ever hear of one Oliver Cromwell?" said I.

"Oh, yes, sir, and of King Charles too. The men of both have been in
this yard and have baited their horses; aye, and have mounted their
horses from the stone on which you sit."

"I suppose they were hardly here together?" said I.

"No, no, sir," said the woman, "they were bloody enemies, and could never
set their horses together."

"Are these long houses," said I, "inhabited by different families?"

"Only by one, sir, they make now one farm-house."

"Are you the mistress of it," said I.

"I am, sir, and my husband is the master. Can I bring you anything,
sir?"

"Some water," said I, "for I am thirsty, though I drank under the old
bridge."

The good woman brought me a basin of delicious milk and water.

"What are the names of the two bridges," said I, "a little way from
here?"

"They are called, sir, the old and new bridge of Tai Hirion; at least we
call them so."

"And what do you call the ffrwd that runs beneath them?"

"I believe, sir, it is called the river Twerin."

"Do you know a lake far up there amidst the moors?"

"I have seen it, sir; they call it Llyn Twerin."

"Does the river Twerin flow from it?"

"I believe it does, sir, but I do not know."

"Is the lake deep?"

"I have heard that it is very deep, sir, so much so that nobody knows
it's depth."

"Are there fish in it?"

"Digon, sir, digon iawn, and some very large. I once saw a Pen-hwyad
from that lake which weighed fifty pounds."

After a little farther conversation I got up, and thanking the kind woman
departed. I soon left the moors behind me and continued walking till I