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Page 40
"He glanced down at my baggage which consisted of a small hand bag, an
over-coat and a fishing pole, with something like a gleam of
disappointment.
"'Going fishing?' he asked.
"'Yes,' I returned.
"'Good trout up those streams and plenty of them,' he went on. 'Going
alone?'
"I did not half like his importunity, but considering I had nothing
better to do, replied as affably as possible. 'No, I expect to meet a
friend in Pentonville who will accompany me."
"His hand went to his beard in a thoughtful attitude and he cast me
what, with my increased experience of the world, I should now
consider a sinister glance. 'Then you are expected?' said he.
"Not considering this worth reply, I stretched out my feet to the
blaze and began to warm them, for I felt chilled through.
"'Been on the road long?' he now asked, glancing at the blue flannel
suit I wore.
"'All summer,' I returned,
"I again thought he looked disappointed.
"'From Troy or New York?' he went on with a vague endeavor to appear
good naturally off hand.
"'New York.'
"'A big place that,' he continued. 'I was there once, lots of money
stored away in them big buildings down in Wall Street, eh?'
"I assented, and he drew a chair up to my side, a proceeding that was
interrupted, however, by the reentrance of his son, who without any
apology crowded into the other side of the fire-place in a way to
sandwich me between them. Not fancying this arrangement which I,
however, imputed to ignorance, I drew back and asked if my room was
ready. It seemed it was not, and unpleasantly as it promised, I felt
forced to reseat myself and join in, if not support, the conversation
that followed.
"A half hour passed away, during which the wind increased till it
almost amounted to a gale. Spurts of rain dashed against the windows
with a sharp crackling sound that suggested hail, while ever and anon
a distant roll as of rousing thunder, rumbled away among the hills in
a long and reverberating peal, that made me feel glad to be housed
even under the roof of these rude and uncongenial creatures.
Suddenly the conversation turned upon the time and time-pieces, when
in a low even tone I heard murmured behind me,
"'The gentleman's room is ready;' and turning, I saw standing in the
doorway the slight figure of the young girl whose appearance had
previously so impressed me.
"I immediately arose. 'Then I will proceed to it at once,' said I,
taking up my traps and advancing towards her.
"'Do not be alarmed if you hear creaks and cracklings all over the
house,' observed the landlord as I departed. 'The windows are loose
and the doors ill-fitting. In such a storm as this they make noise
enough to keep an army awake. The house is safe enough though and if
you don't mind noise--'
"'O I don't mind noise,' rejoined I, feeling at that moment tired
enough to fall into a doze on the staircase. 'I shall sleep, never
fear,' and without further ado followed the girl upstairs into a large
clumsily furnished room whose enormous bed draped with heavy curtains
at once attracted my attention.
"'O I cannot sleep under those things,' remarked I, with a gesture
towards the dismal draperies which to me were another name for
suffocation.
"With a single arm-sweep she threw them back. 'Is there anything more
I can do for you?' asked she, glancing hastily about the room.
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