UOTBS or A TOWN TRAVELLKK. 125 



though sufficiently audible for me to hear him ; ' no other way but 

 through the window,' — and then they all fixed their eyes upon me. 



" I shivered — cold sweat ran down my forehead — my knees knocked 

 against each other, and I positively believe I could have fainted, and 

 indeed perhaps I should have done so, had I not at the moment tossed 

 off nearly the whole of the brandy and water. 



" 'Well, — it can't be helped, — must be so, — and damn me, if I care 

 •who knows it ;' exclaimed the same man, as he, with the other two 

 rose to leave the room. 



" • Good night, sir,' they all gruffly exclaimed, as they passed me. 



" ' Good night, gentlemen,' said I, ' a wet walk home, I fear.' 



" ' Oh ! we have not got far to go,' replied one. ' Where's my 

 dog.'' — Bess, have you seen my dog?' — he continued, as he shut the 

 door upon me, and addressed himself to some personage at the bar. I 

 heard no more. — I was alone. I filled my pipe, and having desired the 

 boy to replenish my glass, I turned my chair round, and seated myself 

 in front of the fire. 



" ' Dog !' — ' far to go !' — ' window !' — I pondered in my mind. 

 Ominous words !— oh, I'm marked ! — I'm a victim ! — going to be mur- 

 dered — butchered in cold blood! — pleasant reflection. I sipped my 

 brandy and water. What's to be done, thought I, — I've no fire-arms 

 about me ; never carried any ! — I've no doubt but that one of them 

 has already gone off with my horse and gig ! — oh ! what a miserable dog 

 I am. 



" I was about to rise in order to see if my predilections were in truth 

 realized, when a gentle voice suddenly arrested my attention. 



" ' Would you like to have a pan of coals run through your bed, if 

 you please, sir ?' 



" ' Eh !' — I turned round, gentlemen. — As pretty a little flower as 

 ever you would wish to set eyes on, stood before me. Rich tresses of 

 the deepest jet flowed gracefully about her neck, — eyes, dark, — face, 

 beautifully fair, — figure, splendid. I'm no poet, — but, positively, her 

 tout ensemble beggared all description. This was the glance of a moment. 



" Somehow or other, I have a great horror of a pan of coals ; I 

 don't know why, but so it is, — and I modestly replied, ' Thank you, my 

 dear, — you are very kind, but when travelling, I never accustom myself 

 to it, and therefore, my dear — ' 



" She had got her answer, and was leaving the room. To lose the 

 society of so charming a creature in such a dull place, and so soon too, 

 was more than my weak nerves, from the state they were then in, could 

 support. I looked at my watch, — stammered out — 'My dear!' — she 

 returned. 



" ' My name is Betsy, if you please, sir,' she blushingly replied, which 

 made her look ten times more beautiful. 



" ' Well, then, Betsy, my dear. You are a — very — pretty girl.' 



" Gentlemen, you will recollect I had taken two glasses of strong 

 brandy and water. 



" ' Did you please to want anything, sir }' 



" ' Yes, my dear ; — I want a kiss from those sweet coral lips of your's.' 



" ' Do you V exclaimed a stentorian voice, as the door opened, and in 

 walked a tall powerful-looking fellow, whom I had not had the pleasure 



