They (George's father and George's father's friend) were to sleep in the same room, but in different beds.
They took the candle, and went up.

The candle lurched up against the wall when they got into the room, and went out, and they had to undress and grope into bed in the dark.

This they did; but, instead of getting into separate beds, as they thought they were doing, they both climbed into the same one without knowing it--one getting in with his head at the top, and the other crawling in from the opposite side of the compass, and lying with his feet on the pillow.
There was silence for a moment, and then George's father said: "Joe!" "What's the matter, Tom ?" replied Joe's voice from the other end of the bed.
"Why, there's a man in my bed," said George's father; "here's his feet on my pillow." "Well, it's an extraordinary thing, Tom," answered the other; "but I'm blest if there isn't a man in my bed, too!" "What are you going to do ?" asked George's father.
"Well, I'm going to chuck him out," replied Joe.
"So am I," said George's father, valiantly.
There was a brief struggle, followed by two heavy bumps on the floor, and then a rather doleful voice said: "I say, Tom!" "Yes!" "How have you got on ?" "Well, to tell you the truth, my man's chucked _me_ out." "So's mine! I say, I don't think much of this inn, do you ?" "What was the name of that inn ?" said Harris.
"The Pig and Whistle," said George.

"Why ?" "Ah, no, then it isn't the same," replied Harris.
"What do you mean ?" queried George.
"Why it's so curious," murmured Harris, "but precisely that very same thing happened to _my_ father once at a country inn.

I've often heard him tell the tale.