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own mind, that there was something uncanny if not unearthly in the pack.
What surmises will not fear give rise to in the mind of a woman! She lighted a
moulded candle, and went again into the parlour, closed the window shutters, and parred them; but before she came out, she set herself upright, held in her breath, and took another steady and scrutinizing look of the pack. God of mercy! She saw it moving, as visibly as she ever saw anything in her life. Every hair on her head stood upright. Every inch of flesh on her body crept like a nest of pismires. She hasted into the kitchen as fast as she could, or her knees bent under the terror that had overwhelmed the heart of poor Alice. She puffed out the candle, lighted it again, and not being able to find a candlestic, though a dozen stood on the shelf in the fore kitchen, she set it in a water-jug, and ran out to the barn for old Richard. “Oh, for mercy, Richard, make haste, and come into the house. Come away, Richard." "Why, what is the matter Alice? what is wrong?" "Oh, Richard! a pedlar came into the hall entreating for lodging. Well, I would not let him stay on any account, and behold, he is gone off and left his pack.” "And what is the great matter in that?" said Richard. "I will wager a penny he will
