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under the lee of a dead wall； the ragged children said
mechanically： 〃Give us a penny；〃 and before the charitable hand
could search the merciful pocket； lapsed away again in
misanthropic doubt of the human nature they addressed。 The
silence of the grave overflowed the churchyard； and filled this
miserable town。 But one edifice； prosperous to look at； rose
consolatory in the desolation of these dreadful streets。
Frequented by the students of the neighboring 〃College of King
William；〃 this building was naturally dedicated to the uses of a
pastry…cook's shop。 Here； at least （viewed through the friendly
medium of the window）； there was something going on for a
stranger to see； for here； on high stools； the pupils of the
college sat； with swinging legs and slowly moving jaws； and；
hushed in the horrid stillness of Castletown； gorged their pastry
gravely； in an atmosphere of awful silence。
〃Hang me if I can look any longer at the boys and the tarts！〃
said Allan； dragging his friend away from the pastry…cook's shop。
〃Let's try if we can't find something else to amuse us in the
next street。〃
The first amusing object which the next street presented was a
carver…and…gilder's shop； expiring feebly in the last stage of
commercial decay。 The counter inside displayed nothing to view
but the recumbent head of a boy； peacefully asleep in the
unbroken solitude of the place。 In the window were exhibited to
the passing stranger three forlorn little fly…spotted frames； a
small posting…bill； dusty with long…continued neglect； announcing
that the premises were to let； and one colored print； the last of
a series illustrating the horrors of drunkenness； on the fiercest
temperance principles。 The compositionrepresenting an empty
bottle of gin； an immensely spacious garret； a perpendicular
Scripture reader； and a horizontal expiring familyappealed to
public favor； under the entirely unobjectionable title of 〃The
Hand of Death。〃 Allan's resolution to extract amusement from
Castletown by main force had resisted a great deal； but it failed
him at this stage of the investigations。 He suggested trying an
excursion to some other place。 Midwinter readily agreeing； they
went back to the hotel to make inquiries。
Thanks to the mixed influence of Allan's ready gift of
familiarity； and total want of method in putting his questions； a
perfect deluge of information flowed in on the two strangers；
relating to every subje ct but the subject which had actually
brought them to the hotel。 They made various interesting
discoveries in connection with the laws and constitution of the
Isle of Man； and the manners and customs of the natives。 To
Allan's delight； the Manxmen spoke of England as of a well…known
adjacent island； situated at a certain distance from the central
empire of the Isle of Man。 It was further revealed to the two
Englishmen that this happy little nation rejoiced in laws of its
own； publicly proclaimed once a year by the governor and the two
head judges； grouped together on the top of an ancient mound； in
fancy costumes appropriate to the occasion。 Possessing this
enviable institution； the island added to it the inestimable
blessing of a local parliament； called the House of Keys； an
assembly far in advance of the other parliament belonging to the
neighboring island； in this respectthat the members dispensed
with the people； and solemnly elected each other。 With these and
many more local particulars； extracted from all sorts and
conditions of men in and about the hotel； Allan whiled away the
weary time in his own essentially desultory manner； until the
gossip died out of itself； and Midwinter （who had been speaking
apart with the landlord） quietly recalled him to the matter in
hand。 The finest coast scenery in the island was said to be to
the westward and the southward； and there was a fishing town in
those regions called Port St。 Mary； with a hotel at which
travelers could sleep。 If Allan's impressions of Castletown still
inclined him to try an excursion to some other place； he had only
to say so； and a carriage would be produced immediately。 Allan
jumped at the proposal； and in ten minutes more he and Midwinter
were on their way to the western wilds of the island。
With trifling incidents； the day of Mr。 Brock's departure had
worn on thus far。 With trifling incidents； in which not even
Midwinter's nervous watchfulness could see anything to distrust；
it was still to proceed； until the night camea night which one
at least of the two companions was destined to remember to the
end of his life。
Before the travelers had advanced two miles on their road； an
accident happened。 The horse fell； and the driver reported that
the animal had seriously injured himself。 There was no
alternative but to send for another carriage to Castletown； or to
get on to Port St。 Mary on foot。
Deciding to walk； Midwinter and Allan had not gone far before
they were overtaken by a gentleman driving alone in an open
chaise。 He civilly introduced himself as a medical man； living
close to Port St。 Mary； and offered seats in his carriage。 Always
ready to make new acquaintances； Allan at once accepted the
proposal。 He and the doctor （whose name was ascertained to be
Hawbury） became friendly and familiar before they had been five
minutes in the chaise together； Midwinter； sitting behind them；
reserved and silent； on the back seat。 They separated just
outside Port St。 Mary； before Mr。 Hawbury's house； Allan
boisterously admiring the doctor's neat French windows and pretty
flower…garden and lawn； and wringing his hand at parting as if
they had known each other from boyhood upward。 Arrived in Port
St。 Mary； the two friends found themselves in a second Castletown
on a smaller scale。 But the country round； wild； open； and hilly；
deserved its reputation。 A walk brought them well enough on with
the daystill the harmless； idle day that it had been from the
firstto see the evening near at hand。 After waiting a little to
admire the sun； setting grandly over hill； and heath； and crag；
and talking； while they waited； of Mr。 Brock and his long journey
home； they returned to the hotel to order their early supper。
Nearer and nearer the night； and the adventure which the night
was to bring with it； came to the two friends； and still the only
incidents that happened were incidents to be laughed at； if they
were noticed at all。 The supper was badly cooked； the
waiting…maid was impenetrably stupid； the old…fashioned bell…rope
in the coffee…room had come down in Allan's hands； and； striking
in its descent a painted china shepherdess on the chimney…piece；
had laid the figure in fragments on the floor。 Events as trifling
as these were still the only events that had happened； when the
twilight faded； and the lighted candles were brought into the
room。
Finding Midwinter； after the double fatigue of a sleepless night
and a restless day； but little inclined for conversation； Allan
left him resting on the sofa； and lounged into the passage of the
hotel； on the chance of discovering somebody to talk to。 Here
another of the trivial incidents of the day brought Allan and Mr。
Hawbury together again；