ed her to the shelter of the porch.

Linton did not wait for the reply, but shut the window, and again lay
down.

In that half-waking state, where sleep and fatigue contest the ground
with watchfulness, Linton continued to hear the sound of several
arrivals, and the indistinct impressions became commingled till all were
lost in heavy slumber. So is it. Childhood itself, in all its guileless
freedom, enjoys no sounder, deeper sleep than he whose head is full
of wily schemes and subtle plots, when once exhausted nature gains the
victory.

So profound was that dreamless state in which he lay, that he was never
once aware that the door by which his chamber communicated with the
adjoining one had been opened, while a select committee were debating
about the disposition of the furniture, in total ignorance that he made
part of it.

"Why couldn't Sir Andrew take that small room, and leave this for me? I
like an alcove vastly," said Lady Janet, as, candle in hand, she took a
survey of the chamber.

"Yes, my leddy," responded Flint, who, loaded with cloaks, mantles, and
shawls, looked like an ambulating wardrobe.

"You can make him a kind of camp-bed there; he'll do very well."

"Yes, my leddy."

"And don't suffer that impertinent Mr. Phillis to poke his head in here
and interfere with our arrangements. These appear to me to be the best
rooms here, and I 'll take them."

"Yes, my leddy."

"Where's Sir Andrew?"

"He's takin' a wee drap warm, my leddy, in the butler's room; he was
ower wat in the 'dickey' behind."

"It rained smartly, but I 'm sure the country wanted it," dryly observed
Lady Janet.--"Well, sir, _you_ here again?" This sharp interrogatory was
addressed to Mr. Phillis, who, after a vain search for her Ladyship over
half the house, at length discovered her.

"You are not aware, my Lady," said he, in a tone of obsequious
deference, that nearly cost him an apoplexy, "that these rooms are
reserved for my master."

"Well, sir; and am I to understand that a guest's accommodation is a
matter of less importance than a valet's caprice? for as Mr. Cashel
never was here himself, and consequently never could have made a choice,
I believe I am not wrong in the source of the selection."

"It was Mr. Linton, my Lady, who made the arrangement."

"And who is Mr. Linton, sir, who ventures to give orders here?--I ask
you, who is Mr. Linton?" As there was something excessively puzzling to
Mr. Phillis in this brief