The Strange Man’s Arrival

           ThestrangercameearlyinFebruary,onewintryday,throughabitingwindandadrivingsnow,thelastsnowfalloftheyear,overthedown,walkingfromBramblehurstrailwaystation,andcarryingalittleblackportmanteauinhisthicklyglovedhand. Hewaswrappedupfromheadtofoot,andthebrimofhissoftfelthathideveryinchofhisfacebuttheshinytipofhisnose;thesnowhadpileditselfagainsthisshouldersandchest,andaddedawhitecresttotheburdenhecarried. Hestaggeredintothe"CoachandHorses"moredeadthanalive,andflunghisportmanteaudown. "Afire,"hecried,"inthenameofhumancharity!Aroomandafire!" Hestampedandshookthesnowfromoffhimselfinthebar,andfollowedMrs.Hallintoherguestparlourtostrikehisbargain. Andwiththatmuchintroduction,thatandacoupleofsovereignsflunguponthetable,hetookuphisquartersintheinn. 

           Mrs.Halllitthefireandlefthimtherewhileshewenttopreparehimamealwithherownhands. AguesttostopatIpinginthewintertimewasanunheard-ofpieceofluck,letaloneaguestwhowasno"haggler,"andshewasresolvedtoshowherselfworthyofhergoodfortune. Assoonasthebaconwaswellunderway,andMillie,herlymphaticmaid,hadbeenbriskedupabitbyafewdeftlychosenexpressionsofcontempt,shecarriedthecloth,plates,andglassesintotheparlourandbegantolaythemwiththeutmostéclat. Althoughthefirewasburningupbriskly,shewassurprisedtoseethathervisitorstillworehishatandcoat,standingwithhisbacktoherandstaringoutofthewindowatthefallingsnowintheyard. Hisglovedhandswereclaspedbehindhim,andheseemedtobelostinthought. Shenoticedthatthemeltingsnowthatstillsprinkledhisshouldersdrippeduponhercarpet. "CanItakeyourhatandcoat,sir?"shesaid,"andgivethemagooddryinthekitchen?"