'He don't belong to them, you see,' said John. 'I
must give him a hint to go.'
'I beg your pardon, friend,' said the old gentleman
advancing to him; 'the more so, as I fear your wife
has not been well; but the Attendant whom my in-
firmity,' he touched his ears and shook his head, 'ren-
ders almost indispensable, not having arrived, I fear
there must be some mistake. The bad night which
made the shelter of your comfortable cart (may I
never have a worse!) so acceptable, is still as bad as
ever. Would you, in your kindness, suffer me to rent
a bed here?'
'Yes, yes,' cried Dot. 'Yes! Certainly!'
'Oh!' said the Carrier, surprised by the rapidity of
this consent. 'Well! I don't object; but still I'm not
quite sure that --'
'Hush!' she interrupted. 'Dear Johnl'
'Why, he's stone deaf,' urged John.
'I know he is, but -- Yes, sir, certainly. Yes! cer-
tainly! I'll make him up a bed, directly, John.'
As she hurried off to do it, the flutter of her spirits,
and the agitation of her manner, were so strange, that
the Carrier stood looking after her, quite confounded.
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