THE COUNTRY INN. 91 



The landlady rises and begs to take our wet hats a 

 model-landlady, too. What a fine eye ! a kind and welcom- 

 ing black eye. Fair and stout; elderly a little silver in 

 her hair, just showing its otherwise thick blackness to be 

 no lie; a broad-frilled, clean white cap and collar, and a 

 black dress. Ah ha ! one of the widows that we have read 

 of. We hesitated to cross the clean-scoured, buff, tile floor 

 with our muddy shoes ; but she draws arm-chairs about the 

 grate, and lays slippers before them, stirs up the fire, though 

 it is far from needing it, and turns to take our knapsacks. 

 &quot; We must be fatigued it s not easy walking in the rain ; she 

 hopes we can make ourselves comfortable.&quot; 



There is every prospect that we shall. 



