"I shall be easily accommodated, ma'am," said the stranger; "I have travelled too much and too far to be troublesome. A Spanish venta, a Persian khan, or a Turkish caravanserail, is all the same to me--only, as I have no servant--indeed, never can be plagued with one of these idle loiterers,--I must beg you will send to the Well for a bottle of the water on such mornings as I cannot walk there myself--I find it is really of some service to me." Mrs. Dods readily promised compliance with this reasonable request; graciously conceding, that there "could be nae ill in the water itsell, but maybe some gude--it was only the New Inn, and the daft haverils that they caa'd the Company, that she misliked. Folk had a jest that St. Ronan dookit the Deevil in the Waal, which garr'd it taste aye since of brimstane--but she dared to say that was a' papist nonsense, for she was tell't by him that kend weel, and that was the minister himsell, that St. Ronan was nane of your idolatrous Roman saunts, but a Chaldee," (meaning probably a Culdee,) "whilk was doubtless a very different story." Matters being thus arranged to the satisfaction of both parties, the post-chaise was ordered, and speedily appeared at the door of Mr. Bindloose's mansion. It was not without a private feeling of reluctance, that honest Meg mounted the step of a vehicle, on the door of which was painted, "FOX INN AND HOTEL, ST. RONAN'S WELL;" but it was too late to start such scruples. "I never thought to have entered ane o' their hurley-hackets," she said, as she seated herself; "and sic a like thing as it is--scarce room for twa folk!--Weel I wot, Mr. Touchwood, when I was in the hiring line, our twa chaises wad hae carried, ilk ane o' them, four grown folk and as mony bairns. I trust that doited creature Anthony will come awa back wi' my whiskey and the cattle, as soon as they have had their feed.--Are ye sure ye hae room eneugh, sir?--I wad fain hotch mysell farther yont." "O, ma'am," answered the Oriental, "I am accustomed to all sorts of conveyances--a dooly, a litter, a cart, a palanquin, or a post-chaise, are all alike to me--I think I could be an inside with Queen Mab in a nutshell, rather than not get forward.--Begging you many pardons, if you have no particular objections, I will light my sheroot," &c. &c. &c. FOOTNOTES: [I-20] This was a peculiarity in the countenance of the celebrated Cossack leader, Platoff. [I-21] An epithet which expresses, in Scotland, what the barometer calls rainy. CHAPTER XVI. THE CLERGYMAN. A man he was to all the country dear, And passing rich with forty pounds a-year. GOLDSMITH'S _Deserted Village_.