Certainly, Miss Flora had to
support some shrewd looks, and certainly she had been troubled. I
could see but the one way before me: to profit by an excellent
bed, to try to sleep soon, to be stirring early, and to hope for
some renewed occasion in the morning. To have said so much and yet
to say no more, to go out into the world upon so half-hearted a
parting, was more than I could accept.
It is my belief that the benevolent fiend sat up all night to baulk
me. She was at my bedside with a candle long ere day, roused me,
laid out for me a damnable misfit of clothes, and bade me pack my
own (which were wholly unsuited to the journey) in a bundle. Sore
grudging, I arrayed myself in a suit of some country fabric, as
delicate as sackcloth and about as becoming as a shroud; and, on
coming forth, found the dragon had prepared for me a hearty
breakfast. She took the head of the table, poured out the tea, and
entertained me as I ate with a great deal of good sense and a
conspicuous lack of charm. How often did I not regret the change!-
-how often compare her, and condemn her in the comparison, with her
charming niece! But if my entertainer was not beautiful, she had
certainly been busy in my interest. Already she was in
communication with my destined fellow-travellers; and the device on
which she had struck appeared entirely suitable.
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