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 a