"Are you the housekeeper, then?" I continued.
"Eea, Aw keep th' hause," she replied.
"Well, I'm Mr. Lockwood, the master—Are there any rooms to lodge me in, I wonder? I wish to stay here all night"
"T' maister!" she cried in astonishment, "Whet, whoiver knew yah wur coming? Yah sud ha' send word! They's nowt norther dry—nor mensful abaht t' place—nowt there is n't!'
She threw down her pipe and bustled in, the girl followed, and I entered too; soon perceiving that her report was true, and, moreover, that I had almost upset her wits by my unwelcome apparition.
I bid her be composed—I would go out for a walk; and, meantime, she must try to prepare a corner of a sitting-room for me to sup in, and a bed-room to sleep in—No sweeping and dusting, only good fires and dry sheets were necessary.
She seemed willing to do her best; though
