blic house, situated at some distance from the road, upon heath. The tempest threatening rather to increase than pate, the night coming on, and no house suitable to the ccommodation of such a guest; his lordship was at lengthr duced to dismount, and go into the little inn adjoining the ed. On his entrance, an air of surprise and consterna-✨ on marked the features and conduct of both the innholder nd his wife. Confused and incoherent answers were ade to common questions; and soon after, a whispering ook place between the two aforementioned persons. At ength, however, the guest was shown into a small parlour : faggot was thrown on the fire, and such refreshments as The house afforded, were preparing; there being no apearance of more favourable weather, allowing them to de

art.

"As the servant-maid was spreading the cloth, a visible remor shook her frame, so that it was not without difficuly she performed her office. His lordship noticed a certain strangeness of the whole group, but remembering to have heard his servant mention the words my lord,' as he alighted from his horse, he naturally imputed this to their. having unexpectedly a guest in their house above the rank of those whom they were accustomed to entertain. The awkwardness of intended respect in such cases, and from such persons, will often produce these embarrassments. His lordship having now made up his mind to remain, that night, supper was served; when a most unexpected visitor made his appearance. Good heavens!' exclaimed his lordship, is it possible I should find my poor dog alive, and in this place?-How wonderful!-How welcome! He stretched out his hand to caress his long lost favourite; but the dog, after looking earnestly at his ancient master, shrunk from. him, and kept aloof, and took the first opportunity of the door being opened to leave the room; but still took his Ccc 2

station

station on the other side of the door, as if watching some expected event.

"Of the history of this animal, from the time of his elopemen, little more resulted from enquiry, than that he had one day followed some drovers who came to refresh themselves and their cattle: and that, appearing to be foot-sore with travel, and unable to proceed with his companions, he staid in the house, and had remained there ever since. This account was obtained from the hostler, who added, he was as harmless a creature as any betwixt Scotland and Ireland.

"His lordship intending to rise early in the morning, to make up the time thus sacrificed to the night, which was still stormy, ordered the servant to show him to his chamber. As he passed the common room which communicated with the parlour, he noticed the innkeeper and his wife in earnest discourse with three men, muffled up in horsemen's coats, who seemed to have just come from buffeting the tempest, and not a little anxious to counteract its effects; for both the landlord and his wife were filling their glasses with spirits. His lordship, on going to his chamber, after the maid and his own servant, heard a fierce growl, as from the top of the stairs. Here is the dog again, my lord,' exclaimed the servant. He is often cross and churlish to strangers,' observed the maid, 'yet he never bites. As they came nearer the door, his growl increased to a furious bark; but upon the maid's speaking to him sharply, he suffered her to enter the chamber, and the servant stepped back to hold the light to his lord. On his old master's advancing towards the chamber, the dog drew back, and stood with a determined air of opposition, as if to guard the entrance. His lordship then called the dog by his name, and on repeating some terms of fondness,

which, in past times, he had familiarly been accustomed to, he licked the hand from whose endearments he had so long been estranged.

"But he still held firm to his purpose, and endeavoured to oppose his master's passing to the chamber. Yet the servant was suffered, without further disputing the point, to go out; not, however, without another growl, though one rather of anger than of resistance, and which accompanied her with increased fierceness all the way down stairs, which she descended with the same strange kind of hurry and confusion that had marked her behaviour ever since. his lordship's arrival. His lordship was prevented from dwelling long on this circumstance, by an attention to the dog, who, without being solicited farther, went a few paces from the threshold of the door, at which he kept guard : and, after caressing his lordship, and using every gentle art of affectionate persuasion, (speech alone excepted) went down one of the stairs, as if to persuade his master to accompany him. His lordship had his foot upon the threshold, when the dog caught the skirt of his coat between his teeth, and tugged it with great violence, yet with every token of love and terror; for he now appeared to partake the general confusion of the family. The poor animal again renewed his fondling, rubbed his face softly along his master's side, sought the patting hand, raised his soliciting feet, and during these endearing ways he whined and trembled to a degree, that could not escape the attention both of the master and the servant.

"Were I apt to credit omens,' said his lordship," "I should suspect from a connection betwixt the deportment of the people of this inn, and the unaccountable solicitude of the dog, that there is something wrong about this house." I have long been of the same opinion,' observed the

servant, and wish, your honour, we had been wet to the skin in proceeding, rather than to have stopped here.'

"It is too late to talk of wishes,' rejoined his lordship, neither can we set off now, were I disposed; for the hurricane is more furious than ever. Let us therefore, make the best of it, In what part of the house do you sleep? Close at the head of your lordship's bed,' answered the domestic, in a little closet, slipside of a room by the stairs; there, my lord,' added the servant, pojuting to a small door on the right.

--

Then go to bed: we are not wholly without the means of defence, you know; and whichever of us shall he first alarmed, may apprise the other. At the same time, all this may be nothing more than the work of our own fancies."

"The anxiety of the dog, during this conversation, can not be expressed. On the servant's leaving the room, the dog ran hastily to the door, as if in hopes his lordship would follow; and looked as if to entice him so to do. Upon his lordship's advancing a few steps, the vigilant creature leaped up with every sign of satisfaction; but when he found those steps were directed only to close the the door, his dejection was depicted in a manner no less lively than had been his joy.

"It was scarcely possible not to be impressed by these unaccountable circumstances; yet his lordship was al most ashamed of yielding to them, and finding all quiet, both above and below, except the noise of the wind and rain; and finding that no caresses could draw the dog from the part of the room he had chosen, his lordship made a bed for the poor fellow with one of the mats, and then sought repose himself. Neither the dog, however, nor the master, could rest. The former rose often, and paced a bout the room: sometimes he came close to the bed curtains,

and

は

nd sometimes whined piteously, although the hand of reonciliation was put forth to sooth him. In the course of n hour after this, his lordship, wearied with conjecture, ll asleep; but he was soon aroused by, his four-footed riend, whom he heard scratching violently at the closet cor; an action which was accompanied by the gnashing of the dog's teeth, intermixed with the most furious grow ings. His lordship, who had laid himself down in his lothes, and literally resting on his arms-his brace of pistols being under his pillow-now sprung from the bed. The rain had ceased, and the wind abated, from which circumstances he hoped to hear better what was passing. But nothing for an instant, appeased the rage of the dog; who, finding his paws unable to force a passage into the closet, put his teeth to a small aperture at the bottom, and attempted to gnaw away the obstruction. There could be no longer a doubt that the cause of the mischief, or danger, whatsoever it might be, lay in that closet. Yet there appeared some risk in opening it; more particularly when, on trying to force the lock, it was found to be secured by some fastening on the inside. A knocking was now heard at the chamber door, through the keyhole of which a voice exclaimed. "For God's sake, my lord, let me in.' His lordship, knowing this to proceed from his servant, advanced armed, and admitted him. • All seems quiet, my lord, below stairs and above,' said the man, for I have never closed my eyes. For heaven's sake! what can be the matter with the dog, to eccasion such a dismal barking? That I am resolved to know,' answered his lordship, furiously pushing the closet door. No sooner was it burst open, than the dog, with inconceivable rapidity, rushed in, and was followed both by the master and man. The candle had gone out in the bustle, and the extreme darkness of the night prevented them from seeing any ob

ject