The family was rather numerous, consisting of a
father, son, and eleven daughters, the eldest of whom might be
about eighteen. A shabby-looking fellow, dressed in a jerkin and
wearing a high-crowned hat, attended as domestic. They arrived
very wet and shivering, and all seemed very disconsolate,
especially the father, who was a well-looking middle-aged man.
"Can we be accommodated?" he demanded in a gentle voice of the man
of the house; "can we be accommodated in this fonda?"
"Certainly, your worship," replied the other; "our house is large.
How many apartments does your worship require for your family?"
"One will be sufficient," replied the stranger.
The host, who was a gouty personage and leaned upon a stick, looked
for a moment at the traveller, then at every member of his family,
not forgetting the domestic, and, without any farther comment than
a slight shrug, led the way to the door of an apartment containing
two or three flock beds, and which on my arrival I had objected to
as being small, dark, and incommodious; this he flung open, and
demanded whether it would serve.
"It is rather small," replied the gentleman; "I think, however,
that it will do."
"I am glad of it," replied the host. "Shall we make any
preparations for the supper of your worship and family?"
"No, I thank you," replied the stranger, "my own domestic will
prepare the slight refreshment we are in need of."
The key was delivered to the domestic, and the whole family
ensconced themselves in their apartment:
