ment

Then all arose, and said
Night."
Alone remained the drowsy Squire
To rake the embers of the fire,
And quench the waning parlor light;
While from the windows, here and
there,

The

As from the road with sudden sweep The Mail drove up the little steep. And stopped beside the tavern door; A moment stopped, and then again With crack of whip and bark of dog Plunged forward through the sea of fog,

And all was silent as before,

And the illumined hostel seemed
The constellation of the Bear,

Downward, athwart the misty air, 20
Sinking and setting toward the sun.
Far off the village clock struck one.

Then one by one the guests came

down,

40

And greeted with a smile the Squire, Who sat before the parlor fire, Reading the paper fresh from town.