man to be frightened by a few snowflakes and a biting wind;
but it is for these poor, suffering women that I am troubled; they are
exposed to such severe hardships--cold, privations, fatigue--and we
cannot adequately shelter and protect them, do what we will."

"But you must remember that they are accustomed to roughing it, my dear
baron, and what would be simply unendurable to many of their sex, who
have never been subjected to such tests, they meet bravely, and make
light of, in a really remarkable manner."

The storm grew worse and worse; the snow, driven with great force by
the wind, penetrated into the chariot where Isabelle, Serafina, and Mme.
Leonarde had taken refuge among the luggage, in spite of all that could
be done to keep it out, and had soon covered their wraps with a coating
of white. The poor horse was scarcely able to make any headway at all
against the wind and snow; his feet slipped at every step, and he panted
painfully. Herode went to his head, and took hold of the bridle with his
strong hand to lead him and try to help him along, while the pedant,
de Sigognac, and Scapin put their shoulders to the wheels at every
inequality in the road and whenever he paused or stumbled badly, and
Leander cracked the whip loudly to encourage the poor beast; it would
have been downright cruelty to strike him. As to Matamore, he had
lingered behind, and they were expecting every moment to see his tall,
spare figure emerge from the gloom with rapid strides and rejoin them.
Finally the storm became so violent that it was impossible to face it
any longer; and though it was so important that they should reach the
next village before the daylight was all gone, they were forced to halt,
and turn the chariot, with its back to the wind. The poor old horse,
utterly exhausted by this last effort, slipped and fell, and without
making any attempt to rise lay panting on the ground. Our unhappy
travellers found themselves in a sad predicament indeed--wet, cold,
tired and hungry, all in the superlative degree--blinded by the driving
snow, and lost, without any means of getting on save their own powers of
locomotion, in the midst of a great desert--for the white covering which
now lay upon everything had obliterated almost all traces of the road;
they did not know which way to turn, or what to do. For the moment
they all took refuge in the chariot, until the greatest violence of the
tempest should be over, huddled close together fo