"
"It was certainly an awful--a terrible night," observed his host;
"but come, its severity is now past; let me see you do justice to your
fare;--a little more ham?"
"Thank you, sir," replied the other; "if you please. Indeed, I cannot
complain of my appetite, which is at all times excellent"--and he
certainly corroborated the truth of his statement by a sharp and
vigorous attack upon the good things before him.
"Sir," said Mrs. Goodwin, "we feel happy to have had the satisfaction
of opening our doors to you last night; and there is only one other
circumstance which could complete our gratification."
"The gratification, madam," he replied, "as well as the gratitude, ought
to be all on my side, although I have no doubt, and can have none,
that the consciousness of your kindness and hospitality are equally
gratifying on yours. But may I ask to what you allude, madam?"
"You are evidently a gentleman, sir, and a stranger, and we would feel
obliged by knowing--"
"O, I beg your pardon, madam," he replied, interrupting her; "I presume
that you are good enough to flatter me by a wish to know the name of
the individual whom your kindness and hospitality have placed under such
agreeable obligations.
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