Page:Long pack, or, A shot with Copenhagen (2).pdf/3

 for such a maid as Alice, on such a night as that: yet Alice declared, that from the very first she did not like him greatly, and though he introduced himself with a little ribaldry, and a great deal of flattery interlarded, yet when he came to ask a night's lodging, he met with a peremptory refusal; he jested on the subject, said he believed she was in the right, for that it would scarcely be safe to trust him under the same roof with such a sweet and beautiful creature—Alice was an old maid, and any thing but beautiful—He then took her on his knee, caressed and kissed her, but all would not do. "No, she would not consent to his staying there.". But are you really going to put me away to night?" "Yes." “Indeed, my dear girl, you must not be so unreasonable; I am come straight from Newcastle, where I have been purchasing a fresh stock of goods, which are so heavy, that I cannot travel far with them, and as the people around are all of the poorer sort, I will rather make you a present of the finest shawl in my pack before I go further." At the mentioning of the shawl, the picture of deliberation was pourtrayed in lively colours on Alice's face for a little; but her prudence, overcame. "No, she was but a servant, and had orders to harbour no person about the house but such as came on business, nor these either, unless she was well acquainted with them." "What the worse can you, or your master or any one else be, of suffering me to tarry until the morning!" "I entreat you do not insist, for here you cannot be." "But indeed, I am not able to carry my goods further to-night." "Then