dden announcement, Patsy drove a short distance
farther, where, as directed by the stranger, he stopped before a small
two-story dwelling, unpretentious, but exceedingly clean and
respectable in appearance, where Mrs. Todd, the landlady, showed Nancy
into the living room.

It was a quaint old chamber, with wooden walls, beamed ceiling and a
great stone fireplace, the lugs coming out on each side to form a seat,
with candles lighted in a row upon the mantel-shelf. There was a spinet
in one corner; a set of shelves filled with shining cups and saucers
between the low white-curtained windows; while a fire from huge logs
filled the chimney place and threw a dancing light over the polished
floor, half hidden by a thick home-spun carpet, and as was the custom
of the time, lighted candles had been set between the drawn white
curtains to guide any uncertain traveller to his destination.

When Nancy entered, blinded by the sudden light, it was her thought
that the apartment was empty, but here the devil had taken his throw in
the game, for sitting in the far corner at a small table, with a jug
and writing materials between them, were two men, the darker of whom
would every little while scribble something off, handing that which he
had written to the other, who would roar aloud and clap him on the
shoulder, and both would drink again.

Nancy stood irresolute before the fire, not knowing what to do, when
the darker man came forward from his place, as though to offer
assistance, but at sight of her he drew back in amazement, and as Mrs.
Todd bustled into the room at the moment, with many courtesies, to
escort her up to Mrs. McGillavorich, no word passed between the two;
but the man stood watching after her as she ascended the winding
stairs.

"We're in a frightful state, my dear," Mrs. McGillavorich cried to her
from the landing. "A frightful state. But the house went down too late
to let ye know that for your own comfort ye'd best stay at home. We'll
make ourselves comfortable here; and I've ordered a chicken pie for
you, which is browned to a turn, and a jelly stir-about; and this
evening we'll have a merry time, for they say Burns is in the house
this instant."

"Ah," she went on, peering from the window, "ye got here just in the
nick of time; for the wind's roaring from the west, and when a storm
comes from that direction it's like to set by us for a long time."

After the supper, served in her own apartment, was by with