Situation-type 2

This Situation-type contains all the elements of Type I., but some of these are given in dialogue or monologue.

It was a black October night in the year of grace 1872, that discovered me standing in front of the old tavern at the Corners. . . . I was wet to the skin and in no amiable humor ; and not being able to find bell-pull or knocker, or even a door, I belabored the side of the house with my heavy walking-stick. In a minute or two I saw a light flickering somewhere aloft, then I heard the sound of a window opening, followed by an exclamation of disgust as a blast of wind extin¬guished the candle which had given me an instantaneous picture en silhouette of a man leaning out of a casement.

"I say, what do you want, down there ? " said an unprepossessing voice.

-

"Isn ’ t this a hotel ?" I asked, finally.

"But what do you want here, at the Corners ? What ’ s your business? People don ’ t come here, least ways in the middle of the night."

"It isn ’ t in the middle of the night," I returned, incensed. "I come on business connected with the new road. I ’ m the superintendent of the works ."

-THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH,

Marjorie Daw and Other People.

One sunshiny morning, in the good old times of the town of Boston , a young carver in wood, well known by the name of Drowne, stood contemplating a large oaken log, which it was his purpose to convert into the figure¬head of a vessel. And while he discussed within his own mind what sort of shape or similitude it were well to bestow upon this excellent piece of timber, there came into Drowne ’ s workshop a certain Captain Hunne¬well, owner and commander of the good brig called the Cynosure, which had just returned from her first voyage to Fayal.

" Ah ! That will do, Drowne, that will do ! " cried the jolly captain, tapping the log with his rattan. "I bespeak this very piece of oak for the figure-head of the Cynosure. She has shown herself the sweetest craft that ever floated, and I mean to decorate her prow with the handsomest image that the skill of man can cut out of timber. And, Drowne, you are the fellow to execute it."

—NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE,  Mosses from  an  Old Manse.