'I was there once, lots of money stored away in them big buildings down in Wall Street, eh ?' "I assented, and he drew a chair up to my side, a proceeding that was interrupted, however, by the reentrance of his son, who without any apology crowded into the other side of the fire-place in a way to sandwich me between them.

Not fancying this arrangement which I, however, imputed to ignorance, I drew back and asked if my room was ready.

It seemed it was not, and unpleasantly as it promised, I felt forced to reseat myself and join in, if not support, the conversation that followed.
"A half hour passed away, during which the wind increased till it almost amounted to a gale.

Spurts of rain dashed against the windows with a sharp crackling sound that suggested hail, while ever and anon a distant roll as of rousing thunder, rumbled away among the hills in a long and reverberating peal, that made me feel glad to be housed even under the roof of these rude and uncongenial creatures.

Suddenly the conversation turned upon the time and time-pieces, when in a low even tone I heard murmured behind me, "'The gentleman's room is ready;' and turning, I saw standing in the doorway the slight figure of the young girl whose appearance had previously so impressed me.
"I immediately arose.