Page:Four interesting tales.pdf/19

19 lordship’s arrival. His lordship was prevented from dwelling long on this circumstance, by an attention to the dog, who, without being solicited farther, went a few paces from the threshold of the door, at which he kept guard ; and after caressing his lordship, and using every gentle art of affectionate persuasion, (speech alone left out,) went down one of the stairs, as if to persuade his master to accompany him.—His lordship laid his foot upon the threshold, when the dog caught the skirt of his coat between his teeth, and tugged it with great violence, yet with every token of love and terror ; for he now appeared to partake of 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 feot, and during these endearing ways he whined and trembled to a degree, that could not escape the attention both of the master and the servant.

“I should suspect,” said his lordship, “were I apt to credit omens, from a connection betwixt 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 been long 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 wo set off now, were I disposed ; for the hurricane is more furious than ever. Let us, therefore, make the best of it. In what part of the house do you sleep? “Close at the head of your lordship’s bed,” answered the domestic, “in a littlo closet, slipside of a room by the stairs—there, my lord,” added the servant, pointing to a small room on the right.

“Then go to bed—we are not wholly without means of defence, you know : and whichever of us