318 The Naturalist of Cumbrae. 



who assured us that we could not be accommodated, 

 as they had only just got their furniture stowed into 

 the house. My wife was very urgent that they would 

 make some shift to take us. The young woman 

 called to her mother, who was upstairs. She came 

 partly down, and said that she could not possibly 

 take us in ; that she had no place to put us ; that 

 they would have to sleep themselves on the floor. 



" My wife said that we had tried every other place 

 in the town, and that at the place where we had 

 most expected to get in they were in the same con- 

 dition as herself, and that it would be hard to have 

 to walk on the street all night. 



"The woman replied that she would be very willing 

 under the circumstances to have taken us in, but she 

 really had no place that she could put any one into ; 

 not a seat even to sit down upon ; that she had just 

 been trying to get a bed put up in a room upstairs. 



" We said we could put up with it in any way for a 

 night. 



" She said that we could not get up ) for the stair 

 was packed full of furniture. 



" My wife said to her, ' If you can get up, I have 

 no doubt that I can follow you.' 



" We managed to get up. Here was a fine bedstead, 

 with a spring wire mattress. My wife said that we 

 were quite satisfied with the place, and that we would 

 just remain where we were. 



" The landlady said, what could we take our food 

 on ? 



" We said, ' On a chair, or anywhere.' 



" However, a small table was soon provided. Then 



