"Faith, sir," again shouted Tom, "it's pure gospel you're spakin', at
any rate. A habitation! Why, upon my credibility, they'd not deserve a
habitation that 'ud refuse to open the door for a dog on such a night
as this, much less to a human creature with a sowl to be saved. A
habitation! Well, I think I can, and one where you'll be well treated. I
suppose, sir, you're a gentleman?"

"Speak out," shouted the traveller in his turn; "I can't hear you."

Tom shaded his mouth with his hand, and shouted again, "I suppose, sir,
you're a gentleman?"

"Why, I suppose I am," replied the stranger, rather haughtily.

"Becaise," shouted Tom, "devil a traneen it 'ud signify to them I'm
bringing you to whether you are or not. The poorest man in the parish
would be sheltered as well as you, or maybe a betther man."

"Are we near the house?" said the other.

"It's just at hand, sir," replied Tom, "and thanks be to God for it; for
if ever the devil was abroad on mischief, he is this night, and may the
Lord save us! It's a night for a man to tell his grandchildre about, and
he may call it the 'night o' the big storm.'"

A lull had now taken place, and Tom heard a laugh from the stranger
which he did not much relish; it was contemptuous and sarcastic, and
gave him no very good opinion of his companion. They had now arrived
at the entrance-gate, which had been blown open by the violence of the