`` I never heard the dogs so loud ! '' observed the good old man . `` Nor the children so rude ! '' answered his good old wife . They sat shaking their heads , one to another , while the noise came nearer and nearer ; until , at the foot of the little eminence on which their cottage stood , they saw two travellers approaching on foot . Close behind them came the fierce dogs , snarling at their very heels . A little farther off , ran a crowd of children , who sent up shrill cries , and flung stones at the two strangers , with all their might . Once or twice , the younger of the two men -LRB- he was a slender and very active figure -RRB- turned about , and drove back the dogs with a staff which he carried in his hand . His companion , who was a very tall person , walked calmly along , as if disdaining to notice either the naughty children , or the pack of curs , whose manners the children seemed to imitate . Both of the travellers were very humbly clad , and looked as if they might not have money enough in their pockets to pay for a night 's lodging . And this , I am afraid , was the reason why the villagers had allowed their children and dogs to treat them so rudely . `` Come , wife , '' said Philemon to Baucis , `` let us go and meet these poor people . No doubt , they feel almost too heavy-hearted to climb the hill . '' `` Go you and meet them , '' answered Baucis , `` while I make haste within doors , and see whether we can get them anything for supper . A comfortable bowl of bread and milk would do wonders towards raising their spirits . '' Accordingly , she hastened into the cottage . Philemon , on his part , went forward , and extended his hand with so hospitable an aspect that there was no need of saying , what nevertheless he did say , in the heartiest tone imaginable , -- `` Welcome , strangers ! welcome ! '' `` Thank you ! '' replied the younger of the two , in a lively kind of way , notwithstanding his weariness and trouble .
`` This is quite another greeting than we have met with yonder , XXXXX the village .
in into nearer of on that to while with within