“Oh, yes,” said the old man, “they are not quite so near their end as we are, my dear; but I do not like to hear Lion keep up such a noise; it cannot be all right, I am sure.”
James Grant got up from his armchair, and went to the door; but he could hear no noise, nor could he see anything, for the snow beat right in his face. Just as he came back, he heard his wife call out, that she saw a man look through the window at her; and in great fear she begged James not to go out.
“Why should I care?” said he: “I have done no harm, and it may be some one who has lost his way in the dark, and who is in want of help.”
With these words he put on his hat, and with a stout stick in his hand, to use in case of need, he went out.
He had not gone far, ere the man he was in search of came up to him, and begged a place to sleep in that night, as it was a long way to the next town.
“You must speak to my wife,” said James; “and if she likes to do so, I dare say she can give you a bed. Come in, for you are cold and wet.”
“As she said this, she looked in the man’s face, and saw that his eyes were full of tears.”
The man did as he was bid, took off his thick coat, which was quite white with snow, and went to the fire. As Kate set a chair for him, she saw that he had on a short blue jacket, such as her John wore when he came home from his first trip to sea. The sight of this, and the man’s honest face, quite won her heart; and she soon set before him some bread and cheese, and a mug of warm beer.
“Come,” said James, when he was once more in his seat, “I am glad to see you here, for this is a lone place, and it does one good to see a new face now and then. Wife, have you not got any meat to give our friend?”