A NIGHT IN A LODGING HOUSE 
On reaching Ashbourne he was again at a 
lower level, and writes :— 
“ I went into a shop and bought some cheese, 
for as my money was scarce I had half resolved to 
sleep out all night since the weather was not cold. 
It was dark by this time. I proceeded along a street 
and found that I had gone out of the London road. 
I was directed to it, however, and on finding it I 
went into a shop to buy some bread. A girl asked 
if I had got a bed. ‘No,’ said I, ‘have you beds ? ’ 
‘Yes.’ So I understood it was a lodging house for 
pedlars and poor stragglers such as abound in 
Galloway, and are intended for the reception of 
Irish vagrants. So I entered the kitchen and 
parlour, for I knew how cheap boarding and 
lodging are in such houses, and I expected some 
fun.” His fellow lodgers he found to be “two 
Irish pedlars, an Italian picture and looking-glass 
vendor, a Don Quixote shoemaker who spoke not 
a word, the landlord and landlady, a couple of 
spindle-shanked, lanthorn-jawed creatures, two 
young girls, and a fat bull-dog.” 
There was a common table, at which all ate 
what they had brought with them. He had a good 
deal of interesting conversation with the Irishmen 
and the Italian boy, who, he says, “ did not mix with 
the people, but looked like a lamb among wolves— 
or a lap-dog among terriers.” When bed-time 
came, after smoking a pen’orth of tobacco, he 
ascended the stair with the Irishmen, who showed 
him his room with three beds in it, one of which 
was for the poor Italian boy. He says of him, 
“ He has a good face. I felt attached to him 
D 
