PLEASANT LODGINGS. 



391 



deserted me. Two little boys had taken possession of 

 the leather bed ; the old lady had retired ; the beautiful 

 little cartaret remained unoccupied, and the young lady 

 withdrew, telling me that this was to be my bed. I 

 do not know why, but I felt uneasy. I opened the mos- 

 cheto-net. In that country beds are not used, and an 

 oxhide or mat, often not so clean as it might be, is the 

 substitute. This was a mat, very fine, and clean as if 

 perfectly new. At the head was a lovely pillow with 

 a pink muslin covering, and over it a thin white pillow- 

 case with a bewitching ruffle. Whose cheek had rested 

 on that pillow ? I pulled off my coat, walked up and 

 down the room, and waked up one of the boys. It 

 was as I supposed. I lay down, but could not sleep, 

 and determined not to continue my journey the next 

 day. 



At three o'clock the guide knocked at the door. The 

 mules were already saddled, and Nicolas was putting 

 on the luggage. I had often clung to my pillow, but 

 never as I did to that pink one with its ruffled border. 

 I told Nicolas that the guide must go home and wait 

 another day. The guide refused. It was the young 

 man ; his father had already gone, and had ordered 

 him to follow. Very soon I heard a light footstep, and 

 a soft voice expostulating with the guide. Indignant at 

 his obstinacy, I ordered him away ; but very soon I 

 reflected that I could not procure another, and might 

 lose the great object I had in view in making this long 

 journey. I called him back, and attempted to bribe him ; 

 but his only answer was, that his father had started at 

 the rising of the moon, and ordered him to follow. At 

 length it was arranged that he should go and overtake 

 his father and bring him back ; but perhaps his father 

 would not come. I was pertinacious until I carried the 



