90 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Solicitude of the recovered dog. 



foot upon the threshold, when the dog caught 

 the skirt of his coat between his teeth, and tug- 

 ged it with great violence, yet with every token 

 of love and terror; for he now appeared to par- 

 take the general confusion of the family. The 

 poor animal again renewed his fondling, rubbed 

 his face softly along his master's side, sought the 

 patting hand, raised his soliciting feet, and dur- 

 ing these endearing wa^s he whined and trem- 

 bled to a degree, that could not escape the atten- 

 tion both of the master and the servant. 



tc f Were I apt to credit omens,' said his lord- 

 ship, ' I should suspect from a connection be- 

 twixt the deportment of the people of this inn, 

 and the unaccountable solicitude of the dog, that 

 there is something wrong about this house.' ' I 

 have long been of the same opinion,' observed 

 the servant, ' and wish, your honour, we had 

 been wet to the skin in proceeding, rather than 

 to have stopped here.' 



" ' It is too late to talk of wishes,' rejoined his 

 lordship, ' neither can we set off now, were I 

 disposed; for the hurricane is more furious than 

 ever. Let us therefore, make the best of it. la 

 what part of the house do you sleep ?' ' Close 

 at the head of your lordship's bed,' answered the 

 domestic, ( in a little closet, slipside of a room 

 by the stairs ; there my lord,' added the servant, 

 pointing to a small door on the right. 



" ' Then go to bed ; we are not wholly without 

 the means of defence, you know; and whichever 



