which he artfully assumed, in order to gain intelligence of Montague's movements. While they were chatting and sipping their tea, they heard a young voice coming up the inn-yard, singing "I've been roaming, I've been roaming, Where the honeysuckle's sweet; And I'm coming, and I'm coming, With lots of dust upon my feet." "You are, indeed!" exclaimed the landlady, "you young jackanapes !—where's yer manners? -do wipe yer shoes, do;—and, here, take this duster, and flack the dust off on um;-out by the scraper!-not in doors. Lod! what a state the tables and things will be in with that cloud o' dust!" Our hero, Stephen, for it was indeed he, whom we left entering this very village, singing so merrily, did as he was ordered to do, by this very commanding landlady. Mrs. Nipper was, indeed, in the civilized village of Paxton, as absolute a sovereign as poor Selkirk is said to have been in his desolate island. She too could have said, "I am monarch of all I come nigh, My reign there is no one disputes; I command all the men, fowl, and brutes!" Poor Cowper! how his mild feelings would have been shocked, if he could have seen his beautiful lines so used. However, it was the case. Mrs. Nipper was the cleanest, neatest, crossest, and most bustling of landladies ;-clean, neat, cross, and bustling to a fault! Whether or not she was aware of her over excellence, and so felt that when they happened to have a hogshead of bad ale on tap, their customers fell off, cannot be known; but very certain it is, that she made little "Mr. Nip," (as she called her good-tempered husband,) "brew good, sound, wholesome beer," so that, in general, her house was full, and always quiet, excepting where she herself happened to be. When Stephen came into the bar again, he had ceased singing; and felt, in spite of himself, a perfect awe of the portly dame, who sat pouring out the tea, her lace frill set out round her short throat, like a chevaux de frise,-and her red roses quivering in her smart cap; so he very quietly seated himself in the window, till some waiter or chambermaid should come in. A well timed compliment from Jones on the butter (which Mrs. N. had made herself,) here put her in a good humour again; so she turned to Stephen; and seeing with one keen glance, that he might sit at her table, without hurting her dignity, she said, "You've walked a long way, my lad, hav'n't you?" "Yes, Ma'am, I have; and I'm tired; and should like a little tea, when you can be so good as to order me some.” This modest reply quite won Mrs. Nipper, who said, very kindly,—“ Come, young man, bring a chair; you shall have your tea with this gentleman and me; we've but just begun.” Thus encouraged, our hero drew near the cheerful little party; and did ample justice to Mrs. N.'s home-baked bread, and fine fresh butter. When the meal was finished, the shrill tongue of the hostess (which generally served the purpose of a bell) called to Jenny to “take away,” adding, as she left the room, ❝ Now I'll go and see about the beds; I'm always very particular about my beds; they are slept in every night: for I hold it a sin and a shame for any inn to have damp beds, giving people their deaths, as I say.” Jones started up, and followed her out of the room, saying, "with her leave he would see his bed-room." She could not refuse: so they went up stairs. "This, Sir," said she, " has two beds in it; you'll make no objections to let the lad as tea'd with us, sleep in the little bed; for we have only this other room, next door, which I shall want for the gentleman in the dining-room." Jones looked hastily in, and saw that it had but one bed in it; he also observed that the "double-bedded room" had no fire-place, nor any opening for one in the chimney; so he said, 66 Certainly, certainly, I could make no possible objection to the youth sleeping in my room; but I noticed that there is no chimney in this room, and I am liable to violent attacks of my breath if I do not sleep with plenty of air; summer and winter I lie with the windows wide open, and the chimney board down so I will take the single bedded room; and I dare say the gentleman in the dining-room, will have no objection to the lad's company; particularly if you tell him that I would willingly sleep in this room, except for the reason which I have given.” "Yes, Sir; no to be sure, Sir; very true, Sir; it shall be so, Sir; and I'll run down this very minute, and hear what the gentleman says about it;" and off she bustled. As soon as Jones had lost sight of her, he went into the room with the two beds in it, and examined the lock of the door; he found that it had no bolt, but that it would lock with ease, "This will never do," thought the villain: "I must hamper it" (i. e. prevent it from locking), “ or my plot will never succeed!" In a moment, he had taken a letter out of his pocket, and had torn a piece off from it; this he twisted up, and thrust sideways into the key-hole in such a manner that it could not be seen, but would entirely prevent the key from turning in the lock. "Now he's in my power!" said the wretch, as he went down stairs. "Well, Sir, it's all settled!-the gentleman makes no objections, and so this young man is to sleep in No. 3:-Do you hear?" turning to Stephen; you can go to bed as soon as you like; 66 and mind you behave yourself, and don't disturb the gentleman." No, Ma'am:-but I want to be off early in |