She went down, not easily hiding how much she was
inclined to shrink and tremble; for the appearance of this traveller was
particularly disagreeable to her. She had sat in her quiet corner before
supper imagining what he would have been in the scenes and places within
her experience, until he inspired her with an aversion that made him
little less than terrific. He followed her down with his smiling politeness, followed her in,
and resumed his seat in the best place in the hearth. There with the
wood-fire, which was beginning to burn low, rising and falling upon him
in the dark room, he sat with his legs thrust out to warm, drinking the
hot wine down to the lees, with a monstrous shadow imitating him on the
wall and ceiling.
The tired company had broken up, and all the rest were gone to bed
except the young lady's father, who dozed in his chair by the fire.
The traveller had been at the pains of going a long way up-stairs to his
sleeping-room to fetch his pocket-flask of brandy. He told them so, as
he poured its contents into what was left of the wine, and drank with a
new relish. 'May I ask, sir, if you are on your way to Italy?'
The grey-haired gentleman had roused himself, and was preparing to
withdraw. He answered in the affirmative. 'I also!' said the traveller. 'I shall hope to have the honour
of offering my compliments in fairer scenes, and under softer
circumstances, than on this dismal mountain.'
The gentleman bowed, distantly enough, and said he was obliged to him. 'We poor gentlemen, sir,' said the traveller, pulling his moustache dry
with his hand, for he had dipped it in the wine and brandy; 'we poor
gentlemen do not travel like princes, but the courtesies and graces of
life are precious to us. To your health, sir!' 'Sir, I thank you.'
'To the health of your distinguished family--of the fair ladies, your
daughters!' 'Sir, I thank you again, I wish you good night. My dear, are
our--ha--our people in attendance?' 'They are close by, father.'
'Permit me!' said the traveller, rising and holding the door open, as
the gentleman crossed the room towards it with his arm drawn through his
daughter's. 'Good repose! To the pleasure of seeing you once more! To
to-morrow!' As he kissed his hand, with his best manner and his daintiest smile,
the young lady drew a little nearer to her father, and passed him with a
dread of touching him.
'Humph!' said the insinuating traveller, whose manner shrunk, and whose
voice dropped when he was left alone. 'If they all go to bed, why I must
go. They are in a devil of a hurry. One would think the night would be
long enough, in this freezing silence and solitude, if one went to bed
two hours hence.' Throwing back his head in emptying his glass, he cast his eyes upon the
travellers' book, which lay on the piano, open, with pens and ink beside
it, as if the night's names had been registered when he was absent.
Taking it in his hand, he read these entries.