A HOLIDAY NIGHT. 325 



" Come here ; let me look at you. You are young men, are 

 you not ? come up to me, you need not be afraid yes, I see ; 

 youths" (we had caps on, which is unusual in England except 

 for school-boys). "Why, poor youths, I am sorry for you 

 strangers you wait here, and I will call my servant and see if 

 she does not think she can find where you can get a bed." 



She then went in, and in a few minutes returned with a maid 

 whom she called Susan, to whom she repeated what we had said ; 

 and then inquired further what was our business, were we " trav- 

 eling with the consent of our parents," etc., and remarked 

 " Your parents are reputable people, I think : yes yes dear 

 me ! yes poor youths. Yes, I will find beds for you. You 

 are good youths, and Susan shall but come in : you will sit in 

 the parlor, and my servant, Susan, shall sit with you a few min- 

 utes, and I will see. Come in, come in, good youths." 



While we remained in the parlor, it was infinitely droll to hear 

 the kind old woman talking with another in the next room about 

 the safety and propriety of lodging us. " I have known the 

 world, and I cannot be deceived : these are good youths." 



It was at length concluded that if we would each of us pay a 

 shilling (" and then we could give whatever we liked besides to 

 Susan"), and if we would be willing to have our doors locked on 

 the outside, we should be provided then and there with beds. 

 The old woman then came in again to see us, and with great 

 severity reexamined us, and finally informed us that we were to 

 spend the night in her house. She then became exceedingly 

 kind again, asked much about our parents and America, and at 

 length asked us, with a whimpering laugh, as if she feared how 

 we would take it, but begged that it might be considered a joke 

 " We wouldn't be offended if our doors should be locked on the 

 outside?" 



