nothing like a bed could be found, and he had ceased to enquire for one, when emily joined him, who observed the languor of her father's countenance, and lamented, that he had taken a road so ill provided with the comforts necessary for an invalid.other cottages, which they examined, seemed somewhat less savage than the former, consisting of two rooms, if such they could be called; the first of these occupied by mules and pigs, the second by the family, which generally consisted of six or eight children, with their parents, who slept on beds of skins and dried beech leaves, spread upon a mud floor.here, light was admitted, and smoke discharged, through an aperture in the roof; and here the scent of spirits (for the travelling smugglers, who haunted the pyrenees, had made this rude people familiar with the use of liquors) was generally perceptible enough.emily turned from such scenes, and looked at her father with anxious tenderness, which the young stranger seemed to observe; for, drawing st.aubert aside, he made him an offer of his own bed.'it is a decent one,' said he, 'when compared with what we have just seen, yet such as in other circumstances i should be ashamed to offer you.' st.aubert acknowledged how much he felt himself obliged by this kindness, but refused to accept it, till the young stranger would take no denial.'do not give me the pain of knowing, sir,'
said he, 'that an invalid, like you, lies on hard skins, while isleep in a bed.besides, sir, your refusal wounds my pride; i must believe you think my offer unworthy your acceptance.let me shew you the way.i have no doubt my landlady can accommodate this young lady also.'
st.aubert at length consented, that, if this could be done, he would accept his kindness, though he felt rather surprised, that the stranger had proved himself so deficient in gallantry, as to administer to the repose of an infirm man, rather than to that of a very lovely young woman, for he had not once offered the room for emily.but she thought not of herself, and the animated smile she gave him, told how much she felt herself obliged for the preference of her father.