“I say,” shouted the horseman at the top of his lungs, “can you direct me to any kind of a habitation, where I may take shelter?”

“Speak louder,” shouted Tom; “I can’t hear you for the wind.”

The other, in a voice still more elevated, repeated the question, “I want to get under the roof of some human habitation, if there be one left standing.  I feel that I have gone astray, and this is no night to be out in.”

“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 tempest.  On proceeding toward the house, they found that their way was seriously obstructed by the fall of several trees that had been blown down across it.  With some difficulty, however, they succeeded in reaching the house, where, although the hour was late, they found the whole family up, and greatly alarmed by the violence of the hurricane.  Tom went in and found Mr. and Mrs. Goodwin in the parlor, to both of whom he stated that a gentleman on horseback, who had lost his way, requested shelter for the night.

“Certainly, Kennedy, certainly; why did you not bring the gentleman in?  Go and desire Tom Stinton to take his horse to the stable, and let him be rubbed down and fed.  In the meantime, bring the gentleman in.”

“Sir,” said Tom, going to the bottom of the hall door-steps, “will you have the goodness to walk in; the masther and misthress are in the parlor; for who could sleep on such a night as this?”

On entering he was received with the warmest and most cordial hospitality.

“Sir,” said Mr. Goodwin, “I speak in the name of myself and my wife when I bid you heartily welcome to whatever my roof can afford you, especially on such an awful night as this.  Take a seat, sir; you must want refreshments before you put off those wet clothes and betake yourself to bed, after the dreadful severity of such a tempest.”