me a heavy fall of snow, which so retarded the
progress of the coaches on the following day that I was almost driven to
distraction. I travelled all night, of course, for this was Wednesday:
to-morrow morning, doubtless, the marriage would take place. But the
night was long and dark: the snow heavily clogged the wheels and balled
the horses' feet; the animals were consumedly lazy; the coachman most
execrably cautious; the passengers confoundedly apathetic in their supine
indifference to the rate of our progression. Instead of assisting me to
bully the several coachmen and urge them forward, they merely stared and
grinned at my impatience: one fellow even ventured to rally me upon
it--but I silenced him with a look that quelled him for the rest of the
journey; and when, at the last stage, I would have taken the reins into
my own hand, they all with one accord opposed it.

It was broad daylight when we entered M-- and drew up at the 'Rose and
Crown.' I alighted and called aloud for a post-chaise to Grassdale.
There was none to be had: the only one in the town was under repair. 'A
gig, then--a fly--car--anything--only be quick!' There was a gig, but
not a horse to spare. I sent into the town to seek one: but they were
such an intolerable time about it that I could wait no longer--I thought
my own feet could carry me sooner; and bidding them send the conveyance
after me, if it were ready within an hour, I set off as fast as I could
walk. The distance was little more than six miles, but the road was
strange, and I had to keep stopping to inquire my way; hallooing to
carters and clodhoppers, and frequently invading the cottages, for there
were few abroad that winter's morning; sometimes knocking up the lazy
people from their beds, for where so little work was to be done, perhaps
so little food and fire to be had, they cared not to curtail their
slumbers. I had no time to think of them, however; aching with weariness
and desperation, I hurried on. The gig did not overtake me: and it was
well I had not waited for it; vexatious rather, that I had been fool
enough to wait so long.

At length, however, I entered the neighbourhood of Grassdale. I
approached the little rural church--but lo! there stood a train of
carriages before it; it needed not the white favours bedecking the
servants and horses, nor the merry voices of the village idlers assembled
to witness the show, to apprise me that there was a wedding within. I