I
suppose, sir, you're a gentleman?"
"Speak out," shouted the traveller in his turn; "I can't hear you."
Tom shaded his mouth with his hand, and shouted again, "I suppose, sir,
you're a gentleman?"
"Why, I suppose I am," replied the stranger, rather haughtily.
"Becaise," shouted Tom, "devil a traneen it 'ud signify to them I'm
bringing you to whether you are or not. The poorest man in the parish
would be sheltered as well as you, or maybe a betther man."
"Are we near the house?" said the other.
"It's just at hand, sir," replied Tom, "and thanks be to God for it; for
if ever the devil was abroad on mischief, he is this night, and may the
Lord save us! It's a night for a man to tell his grandchildre about, and
he may call it the 'night o' the big storm.'"
A lull had now taken place, and Tom heard a laugh from the stranger
which he did not much relish; it was contemptuous and sarcastic, and
gave him no very good opinion of his companion. They had now arrived
at the entrance-gate, which had been blown open by the violence of the
tempest. On proceeding toward the house, they found that their way was
seriously obstructed by the fall of several trees that had been blown
down across it.
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