‘And I would like to know what we are to do with him the night!’ she cried.

‘Ronald and I meant to put him in the hen-house,’ said the encrimsoned Flora.

‘And I can tell you he is to go to no such a place,’ replied the aunt.  ’Hen-house, indeed!  If a guest he is to be, he shall sleep in no mortal hen-house.  Your room is the most fit, I think, if he will consent to occupy it on so great a suddenty.  And as for you, Flora, you shall sleep with me.’

I could not help admiring the prudence and tact of this old dowager, and of course it was not for me to make objections.  Ere I well knew how, I was alone with a flat candlestick, which is not the most sympathetic of companions, and stood studying the snuff in a frame of mind between triumph and chagrin.  All had gone well with my flight:  the masterful lady who had arrogated to herself the arrangement of the details gave me every confidence; and I saw myself already arriving at my uncle’s door.  But, alas! it was another story with my love affair.  I had seen and spoken with her alone; I had ventured boldly; I had been not ill received; I had seen her change colour, had enjoyed the undissembled kindness of her eyes; and now, in a moment, down comes upon the scene that apocalyptic figure with the nightcap and the horse-pistol, and with the very wind of her coming behold me separated from my love!  Gratitude and admiration contended in my breast with the extreme of natural rancour.  My appearance in her house at past midnight had an air (I could not disguise it from myself) that was insolent and underhand, and could not but minister to the worst suspicions.  And the old lady had taken it well.  Her generosity was no more to be called in question than her courage, and I was afraid that her intelligence would be found to match.  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.  I was a young Englishman who had outrun the constable; warrants were out against me in Scotland, and it had become needful I should pass the border without loss of time, and privately.