But not so much as a smile came upon the countenance of the elderly gentleman.  He, too, was small, but he had a deep voice.  “Good-evening, sir,” said he.  “I am told that you are the school-master at Walford, and that you were overtaken by the storm.”

I assured him that these were the facts, and stood waiting to hear what he would say next.

“It was very proper indeed, sir, that my gardener and his wife should take you under the protection of this roof, but as I hear that it is proposed that you should spend the night here, I have come down to speak about it.  I will tell you at once, sir, that I have given my man the most positive orders that he is not to allow any one to spend a night in this house.  It is so conveniently near to the road that I should not know what sort of persons were being entertained here if I allowed him any such privilege.”

As he spoke the young lady stood silently gazing at me.  There was a remnant of a smile upon her face, but I could also see that she was a little annoyed.  I was about to make some sort of an independent answer to the gentleman’s remarks, but he anticipated me.

“I do not want you to think, sir, on account of what I have said, that I intend to drive you off my property at this hour of the evening, and in your inappropriate clothing.  I have heard of you, sir, and you occupy a position of trust and, to a certain degree, of honor, in your village.  Therefore, while I cannot depart from my rule—­for I wish to make no precedent of that kind—­I will ask you to spend the night at my house.  You need not be annoyed by the peculiarity of your attire.  If you desire to avoid observation you can remain here until it grows darker, and then you can walk up to the mansion.  I shall have a bed-room prepared for you, and whenever you choose you can occupy it.  I have been informed that you have had something to eat, and it is as well, for perhaps your dress would prevent you from accepting an invitation to our evening meal.”

I still held my brier-wood pipe in my hand, and I felt inclined to hurl it at the dapper head of the consequential little gentleman, but with such a girl standing by it would have been impossible to treat him with any disrespect, and as I looked at him I felt sure that his apparent superciliousness was probably the result of too much money and too little breeding.

The young lady said nothing, but she turned and looked steadily at her father.  Her countenance was probably in the habit of very promptly expressing the state of her mind, and it now seemed to say to her father, “I hope that what you have said will not make him decline what you offer!”

My irritation quickly disappeared.  I had now entered into my Cathay, and I must take things as I found them there.  As I could not stay where I was, and could not continue my journey, it would be a sensible thing to overlook the man’s manner and accept his offer, and I accordingly did so.  I think he was pleased more than he cared to express.