Scott intended to start on his homeward journey the next morning, but an hour before he was to leave he received a telegram to the following effect:

"Wait for letter.   Tower."

Scott understood at once that the letter would contain instructions from the firm, and therefore informed the earl that he would remain a day longer.

"That will suit me admirably," said the earl. "If you are at leisure, we will take a long drive."

"I shall have nothing to do till I receive my letter," answered Scott.

"Then you can join me?"

"I shall be glad to do so."

It turned out that the earl wished to ride across the country to a point some twenty miles distant. What the attraction was it is not necessary here to state. Probably the trip was undertaken chiefly for the drive.

At the end of twenty miles a village was reached,[Pg 220] which contained a passable hotel. Here the two tourists dined, and did not leave on their return till about six o\'clock.

"We shall be rather late," said the earl. "Still, our horse is a good one, and we ought to reach the hotel in two hours, or little more."

"That won\'t be very late."

"Then we can stop on the way somewhere."

When the travelers had proceeded half a dozen miles on their way, the horse suddenly showed signs of lameness. What had occasioned it neither could tell, but as he appeared to be in pain, it was decided, upon consultation, to stop at the next house and make arrangements to pass the night. It would be easy to start again on the following morning with the horse they had, or, if necessary, a substitute. Neither felt in haste, and the time lost would not be serious.

The next house proved to be situated on the edge of the woods. It occupied a lonely location, and seemed in rather a dilapidated state. Everything about it bore an aspect of neglect.

Scott jumped from the carriage, and went to the door.

It was opened, after he had knocked two or three times, by a careworn woman of middle age.[Pg 221] Her face was lined, and she wore a look of depression and discouragement.

"What\'s your will?" she asked.

"Our horse has fallen lame, and we would like to stop here overnight, and let the horse rest. I see you have a barn."

"I don\'t know," said the woman, slowly. "We don\'t keep a hotel."

"I am quite aware of that, and we must apologize for intruding. We shall give you some trouble, but we are willing to pay for it. If five dollars will compensate you we will be glad to pay that sum for supper, lodging and breakfast for ourselves, and accommodation for our horse."

The woman seemed surprised by the liberality of the offer. In such a household five dollars was a good deal of money.

"You can come in," she said, "and I will get you some supper. My man will soon be home, and if he is willing you can stay all night."

"I hope he will soon be back, as we would like to know what to depend upon."

"He\'ll be here in an hour, likely."

"May we put the horse in the barn?"

"Yes, if you can do it yourself. There ain\'t no men folks \'round."

[Pg 222]

"Oh, yes, we will attend to it."

"I\'ll go right to work getting supper. I\'ve got some eggs and bacon in the house, if that will do you."

"That will do very well, I think. You can give us some tea, too, I presume?"

"Yes, or you can have some whisky. My man always wants some."

"Thank you, but I think we should prefer tea."

"That\'s just as you like. I have tea for myself. My man won\'t drink it. He says it\'s only fit for women."

"Consider us women, then," said Scott, laughing. "I will go and tell my friend that you will receive us."

"If my man agrees."

"That is understood."

"What is your friend\'s name?"

"Mr. Grant," answered Scott, knowing that the earl would not care to have his rank known in such a place. It might have led to extravagant terms for the accommodation rendered, an............