determined upon abiding at the
south, he ventured upon some few of the practices prevailing in that
region, and on more than one occasion, a gallon of whiskey had
circulated "free gratis," and "_pro bono publico_," he added, somewhat
maliciously, at the cost of our worthy tradesman. These things, it may
not be necessary to say, had elevated that worthy into no moderate
importance among those around him; and, that he himself was not
altogether unconscious of the change, it may be remarked that an ugly
_kink_, or double in his back--the consequence of his pack and past
humility--had gone down wonderfully, keeping due pace in its descent
with the progress of his upward manifestations.

Such was the somewhat novel position of Bunce, in the village and
neighborhood of Chestatee, when the absolute necessity of the case
prompted Munro's application to him for assistance in the proposed
extrication of Ralph Colleton. The landlord had not been insensible to
the interest which the pedler had taken in the youth's fortune, and not
doubting his perfect sympathy with the design in view, he felt the fewer
scruples in approaching him for the purpose. Putting on, therefore, the
disguise, which, as an old woman, had effectually concealed his true
person from Bunce on a previous occasion, he waited until evening had
set in fairly, and then proceeded to the abode of him he sought.

The pedler was alone in his cottage, discussing, most probably, his
future designs, and calculating to a nicety the various profits of each
premeditated branch of his future business. Munro's disguise was
intended rather to facilitate his progress without detection through the
village, than to impose upon the pedler merely; but it was not unwise
that he should be ignorant also of the person with whom he dealt.
Affecting a tone of voice, therefore, which, however masculine, was yet
totally unlike his own, the landlord demanded a private interview, which
was readily granted, though, as the circumstance was unusual, with some
few signs of trepidation. Bunce was no lover of old women, nor, indeed,
of young ones either. He was habitually and constitutionally cold and
impenetrable on the subject of all passions, save that of trade, and
would rather have sold a dress of calico, than have kissed the prettiest
damsel in creation. His manner, to the old woman who appeared before
him, seemed that of one who had an uncomfortable suspicion of having
pleased rather more tha