$92 
was not without difficulty she per- 
formed her office. Lord C. noticed 
a certain strangeness of the whole 
groupe, but remembering to have 
heard his servant mention the words 
‘© my lord,” as he alighted from his 
horse, he naturally imputed this to 
their having, unexpectedly, a guest 
in their house above the rank of 
those whom they were accustomed 
to entertain. ‘The awkwardness of 
intended respect, in such cases, and 
from such persons, will often pro- 
duce these embarrassments. 
The noble guest having now made 
ip his mind to remain that night, 
supper was served; when a most 
unexpected visitor made his appear- 
ance. ‘* Good heavens !’’ exclaim- 
ed his lordship, ‘* is it possible I 
should find my poor dog alive, and 
in this place. How wonderful! 
how welcome !” 
He stretched out his hand to ca- 
ress his long lost favourite ; but the 
dog, after looking earnestly at his 
ancient master, shrunk from him and 
kept aloof. He even refused food, 
though offered him with kindness, 
and took the first opportunity of the 
door being opened to leave the 
room. Mauy efforts were atfter- 
wards made on the part of lord C. 
during the evening, to revive the re- 
membrance and affection of the alie- 
nated favourite, who still resisted 
them all. As often as he was led 
into the apartment, he appeared to 
wish himself out of his master’s sight, 
but still took his station on the 
other side of the door, as if watch- 
ing some expected event. 
Of the dog’s history, from the 
time of his elopement, little more 
resulted from enquiry, than that he 
had one day followed some drovers 
who came to refresh themselyes and 
their cattle; and that, appearing to 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803. 
be foot sore with travel, and as un- 
willing as unable to proceed with — 
his companions, he staid in the house, 
and had remained there ever since. 
This account was obtained from the 
ostler, who added, that the dog was 
as harmless a creature as any be- 
twixt Scotland and Ireland, but that 
he thought him rather given to me- 
lancholy, as if, poor fellow, he had 
something on his spirits. 
Lord C, intending to rise early in 
the morning to make up the time 
thus sacrificed to the night; which 
was still stormy, ordered the servant 
to shew him to his chamber. 
As he passed the common room, 
which communicated with the par- 
lour, he noticed the innkeeper and 
his wife in earnest but governed 
discourse with three men muffled up 
in horseman’s coats, who seemed to 
have just come from buffeting the 
tempest ; and not a little anxious to 
counteraét its effects; for both the 
landlord and his wife were filling 
their glasses with spirits. His lord- 
ship, on going up to his chamber, 
after the maid and his own servant, 
heard a fierce growl, as from the top 
of the stairs. ‘* Here is the dog 
again, my lord,” exclaimed the ser- 
vant. ‘* He is often cross and 
churlish to strangers,” observed the 
maid, ‘¢ yet he never bites.” As 
they came nearer the door, his growl 
increased to a furious bark. But, 
upon the maid’s speaking to him 
sharply, he suffered her to enter the 
chamber, and the servant stopped 
back to hold the light to his lord. 
On his old master’s advancing to- 
wards the chamber, the dog drew 
back, and stood with a determined 
air of opposition, as if to guard the 
entrance, 
Lord C. addressed him by his 
name; and, for the first time, since 
their 
