He crouched like a stray dog down on the dripping mat outside the door, and murmured some unintelligible words.

In this dilemma I hastened to wake up poor F----, who found it difficult to understand why I wanted him to get up at daylight during a "sou'-wester." But I entreated him to go to the hall door, whilst I flew off to get my lazy maids out of their warm beds.
With all their faults, they did not need much rousing on that occasion.
I suppose I used very forcible words to convey the misery of the object standing outside, for I know that Mary was in floods of tears, and had fastened her gown on over her night-gear, whilst I was still speaking; and the cook had tumbled out of bed, and was kneeling before the kitchen fire with her eyes shut, kindling a blaze, apparently, in her sleep.
As soon as things were in this forward state, I returned to the verandah, and found our swagger guest drawing a very long breath after a good nip of pure whisky which F---- had promptly administered to him.
"I'm fair clemmed wi' cold and wet," the swagger said, still bundled up in his comparatively sheltered corner.

"I've been out on the hills the whole night, and I am deadbeat.

Might I stop here for a bit ?" He asked this very doubtfully, for it is quite against swagger etiquette to demand shelter in the morning.

For all answer he was taken by the shoulder, and helped up.