t is, if you won't stop to dinner."

"I don't think I can, sir--I should like to see Miss Lavinia, though,
if--"

"Out visiting," said the Squire.

This removed all Verty's scruples; he had virtually done what he
promised Redbud, and would now go and see her, because the Squire had
a better right to decide than even Miss Lavinia. He, therefore, bowed,
with a smiling look, to the old gentleman, and continued his way
toward the lodge of his mother.

He had reached the foot of the hill upon which the cabin was situated,
when he saw before him, seated on a log by the side of the bridle-path
he was following, one of those pedlars of former times, who were
accustomed to make the circuit of the countryside with their packs
of wares and stuffs--peripatetic merchants, who not unfrequently
practised the trade of Autolycus.

This man seemed to be a German; and when he spoke, this impression was
at once verified. He informed Verty that he was tired, very hungry,
had travelled a long way, and would be obliged to his honor for a
little bit of something, just to keep body and soul together till he
reached "Wingester." He had gone toward the house, he said, but a dog
there had scared him, and nobody seemed stirring.

Verty very readily assented to this request, and first stabling Cloud,
accompanied the German pedlar to the cabin. The old Indian woman was
out in the woods gathering some herbs or roots, in the properties of
which she was deeply learned; and in her absence, Wolf had mounted
guard over the lodge and its contents. The pedlar had approached,
intent on begging, and, if possible, larceny; but Wolf had quickly
bared a double row of long, sharp teeth, which ceremony he had
accompanied with an ominous growl, and this had completely daunted
Autolycus, who had retreated with precipitation.

Wolf now made no further objection to his entry, seeing that Verty
accompanied him; and the two persons went into the house.

"_Ma mere's_ away somewhere," said Verty; "but we can broil some
venison. Wait here: I'll go and get it."

The boy, humming one of the old border songs, opened a door in the
rear of the lodge, and passed into a sort of covered shed, which was
used as a store-room by the old woman.

The door closed behind him.

The pedlar looked around; the two hounds were lazily pawing each other
in the sun, before the door, and no sound disturbed the silence, but
their low whining, as they yawned, or the faint cry of some d