KOTES OF A TOWN TRAVELLER. 1*27 



up bis spirits there than up here hi this dull place, and as you was going 

 that wav too in the morning, he said, he thought he'd make bold to ask 

 jou.' 



" I was standing with my back to the fire, holding the candlestick in 

 mv hand, as the fellow finished his tale, and glided out of the room. 

 ' The rascal's been roasting me,' at length I exclaimed. ' He also is 

 an accomplice. Alas!' I sighed as I left the room, 'no hope! no 

 escape !' 



" The lovely form of Bessy crossed me as I passed the bar. I would 

 have apologised for my rude conduct, but that I saw the stern eye of 

 Gregory fixed upon me. As it was, I simply and civilly wished her 

 good night. 



" ' Good night, sir.' 



" Oh ! the tone of her voice — the manner — the look she gave me, 

 struck to my very heart-strings. I shall never forget it. ' This way, 

 if you please, sir,' said a voice. It was Gregory's, and he led me to an 

 inner room, separated only from the bar by a partition. Now, thought 

 I, as I threw myself into a chair, ' what's to be done ?' I had not an 

 implement of defence about me, nor was there even so much as a poker 

 in the room. Suddenly the words, ' Through the window!' flashed 

 across my mind. I examined it ; — not a fastening of any kind about it ; 

 and, to add to the misfortune, it was a casement window reaching down 

 to the ground — no shutters, and, in one or two instances, paper substituted 

 for glass. 



" By the side of the window, in a sort of recess, was a door which led 

 — Heaven knows where ; but it struck me, if I could but contrive to 

 force it open, it might eventually lead me into the stable, where, with 



a very little difficulty, I could But no ; it resisted all my efibrts, 



and I was compelled to leave my task unfinished. I took oflf my 

 coat, — laid it upon the chair, — looked under the bed. All was safe there. 

 I was just about to undo my straps, when suddenly I heard a low 

 moaning, like the groans of a person struggling to shake off the weight 

 which oppressed him» The noise evidently proceeded from the bed 

 Gracious God ! I saw the bed clothes move ! It's all over with me, 

 thought I ; and there I stood, in the attitude of taking ofT my straps, 

 expecting eveiy moment to see the floor open and the bed gradually 

 descend. A growl — a shake, — the very clothes were moved, or were 

 dragged off the bed. My head whizzed round like a teetotum; my 

 eyes grew dim, and I was about to call out murder, when out jumped — 

 Oh! God!— 



" ' A man !' exclaimed the company. 



"'A dog!' reiterated the speaker. 'A damned large New- 

 foundland dog.' " 



The company gave a hearty laugh. Fresh glasses were called for, 

 and in a few minutes the gentleman resumed his story : — 



" I was not long, you may be sure, gentlemen, in opening the door 

 and letting the beast out. It was the animal before mentioned, and 

 which, as I afterwards learnt, was very fond of taking a nap in that 

 particular room, and on that particular bed. It had very ingeniously 

 crept under the counterpane, which prevented my perceiving it when 1 

 first entered tlie rocm." The company smiled. 



