I was so much surprised at this , that I could find no voice to answer , but stood staring . `` Ay , '' the man resumed , `` he 'll be dead , no doubt ; and that 'll be what brings ye chapping to my door . '' Another pause , and then defiantly , `` Well , man , '' he said , `` I 'll let ye in ; '' and he disappeared from the window . CHAPTER III I MAKE ACQUAINTANCE OF MY UNCLE Presently there came a great rattling of chains and bolts , and the door was cautiously opened and shut to again behind me as soon as I had passed . `` Go into the kitchen and touch naething , '' said the voice ; and while the person of the house set himself to replacing the defences of the door , I groped my way forward and entered the kitchen . The fire had burned up fairly bright , and showed me the barest room I think I ever put my eyes on . Half-a-dozen dishes stood upon the shelves ; the table was laid for supper with a bowl of porridge , a horn spoon , and a cup of small beer . Besides what I have named , there was not another thing in that great , stone-vaulted , empty chamber but lockfast chests arranged along the wall and a corner cupboard with a padlock . As soon as the last chain was up , the man rejoined me . He was a mean , stooping , narrow-shouldered , clay-faced creature ; and his age might have been anything between fifty and seventy . His nightcap was of flannel , and so was the nightgown that he wore , instead of coat and waistcoat , over his ragged shirt . He was long unshaved ; but what most distressed and even daunted me , he would neither take his eyes away from me nor look me fairly in the face . What he was , whether by trade or birth , was more than I could fathom ; but he seemed most like an old , unprofitable serving-man , who should have been left in charge of that big house upon board wages . `` Are ye sharp-set ? '' he asked , glancing at about the level of my knee . `` Ye can eat that drop parritch ? '' I said I feared it was his own supper . `` O , '' said he , `` I can do fine wanting it . I 'll take the ale , though , for it slockens -LRB- moistens -RRB- my cough . '' He drank the cup about half out , still keeping an eye upon me as he drank ; and then suddenly held out his hand .
`` Let 's see the letter , '' XXXXX he .
brings disappeared entered groped let opened passed resumed said seemed