ss of the night, and I'll e'en worship the divinity at a blazing
shrine! [_Exit into the house._

SCENE VI.--_The interior of the cottage--the entrance, door, and
casements are on one side--opposite is the fireplace--and a
staircase in the back scene conducts to an upper chamber--a table
with a lamp burning, and a frugal supper stands in the middle of the
stage.--Florian is discovered when the scene draws, kneeling at the
hearth and chaffing his hands before the fire._

_Flor._ Eternal praise to the architect who first invented
chimney-corners? the man who built the pyramids was a dunce by
comparison. [_rises and looks round him._] All solitary and silent:
faith, my situation here is somewhat whimsical. Well, I am left in
undisturbed possession, and that's a title in law, if not in equity.
[_he takes off his cloak and hangs it on a chair_] Yes, this shall be my
barrack for the night. What an unsocial spirit must the fair mistress of
this cottage possess. Egad, she seemed to think it necessary, like the
man and woman in the weather-house, that one sex should turn forth into
the storm, so soon as the other sought a shelter from its peltings:
a plague on such punctilio.

[_Monica_ enters down the staircase from her chamber.]

_Mon._ [_speaking as she descends._] There, my garments are changed, and
we may now enjoy our supper.

_Flor._ Ha! another woman! but old, by the mother of the Graces!

_Mon._ A stranger!

_Flor._ Not an impertinent one, I trust. One, who in the darkness of the
storm has missed his road, despairs of regaining it till morning, and
craves of your benevolence a shelter for the night. You shall be soon
convinced I am no dangerous guest.

_Mon._ [_with a voluble civility._] Nay, young gentleman, never trouble
yourself to inform me of your rank; you have told me your necessity, and
that's a sufficient claim to every comfort my little cabin can afford;
pray, sir, take a seat: I am much honoured by your presence: we have a
little supper toward; you must partake it, sir: here! my good Silence!
come hither. Ah! I do not see--[_looking anxiously round the cottage._]

_Flor._ I am afraid, my good madam, you miss one of your family.

_Mon._ I do, indeed, sir; and--

_Flo._ It was my misfortune to drive a female out of your house at the
moment I entered it.

_Mon._ Sir!

_Flor._ But not intentionally, I protest. The fact is, though I have
always esteemed myself as a well-manufactu