: had I not better tell coachman to take down your Lordship's trunks,
and the lady's, and make you a bed in the next room?"

Very much to her surprise, this proposition was received with a roar
of laughter. "Madam," said the person addressed, "I'm not a lord, but
a tailor and draper; and as for that young woman, before to-day I never
set eyes on her."

"WHAT!" screamed out Mrs. Score. "Are not you the Count? Do you mean to
say that you a'n't Cat's--? DO you mean to say that you didn't order her
bed, and that you won't pay this here little bill?" And with this she
produced a document, by which the Count's lady was made her debtor in a
sum of half-a-guinea.

These passionate words excited more and more laughter. "Pay it, my
Lord," said the coachman; "and then come along, for time presses." "Our
respects to her Ladyship," said one passenger. "Tell her my Lord can't
wait," said another; and with much merriment one and all quitted the
hotel, entered the coach, and rattled off.

Dumb--pale with terror and rage--bill in hand, Mrs. Score had followed
the company; but when the coach disappeared, her senses returned. Back
she flew into the inn, overturning the ostler, not deigning to answer
Doctor Dobbs (who, from behind soft tobacco-fumes, mildly asked the
reason of her disturbance), and, bounding upstairs like a fury, she
rushed into the room where Catherine lay.

"Well, madam!" said she, in her highest key, "do you mean that you have
come into this here house to swindle me? Do you dare for to come with
your airs here, and call yourself a nobleman's lady, and sleep in the
best bed, when you're no better nor a common tramper? I'll thank you,
ma'am, to get out, ma'am. I'll have no sick paupers in this house,
ma'am. You know your way to the workhouse, ma'am, and there I'll trouble
you for to go." And here Mrs. Score proceeded quickly to pull off the
bedclothes; and poor Cat arose, shivering with fright and fever.

She had no spirit to answer, as she would have done the day before, when
an oath from any human being would have brought half-a-dozen from her in
return; or a knife, or a plate, or a leg of mutton, if such had been to
her hand. She had no spirit left for such repartees; but in reply to the
above words of Mrs. Score, and a great many more of the same kind--which
are not necessary for our history, but which that lady uttered with
inconceivable shrillness and volubility, the poor wench could say
little,--only sob and