chman again retired, promising to
have the horses ready in about an hour and a half. Sol and Mountclere
made themselves comfortable upon either side of the fireplace, since
there was no remedy for the delay: after sitting in silence awhile, they
nodded and slept.

How long they would have remained thus, in consequence of their fatigues,
there is no telling, had not the mistress of the cottage descended the
stairs about two hours later, after peeping down upon them at intervals
of five minutes during their sleep, lest they should leave without her
knowledge. It was six o'clock, and Sol went out for the man, whom he
found snoring in the hay-loft. There was now real necessity for haste,
and in ten minutes they were again on their way.

* * * * *

Day dawned upon the 'Red Lion' inn at Anglebury with a timid and watery
eye. From the shadowy archway came a shining lantern, which was seen to
be dangling from the hand of a little bow-legged old man--the hostler,
John. Having reached the front, he looked around to measure the
daylight, opened the lantern, and extinguished it by a pinch of his
fingers. He paused for a moment to have the customary word or two with
his neighbour the milkman, who usually appeared at this point at this
time.

'It sounds like the whistle of the morning train,' the milkman said as he
drew near, a scream from the further end of the town reaching their ears.
'Well, I hope, now the wind's in that quarter, we shall ha'e a little
more fine weather--hey, hostler?'

'What be ye a talking o'?'

'Can hear the whistle plain, I say.'

'O ay. I suppose you do. But faith, 'tis a poor fist I can make at
hearing anything. There, I could have told all the same that the wind
was in the east, even if I had not seed poor Thomas Tribble's smoke
blowing across the little orchard. Joints be a true weathercock enough
when past three-score. These easterly rains, when they do come, which is
not often, come wi' might enough to squail a man into his grave.'

'Well, we must look for it, hostler. . . . Why, what mighty ekkypage is
this, come to town at such a purblinking time of day?'

''Tis what time only can tell--though 'twill not be long first,' the
hostler replied, as the driver of the pair of horses and carriage
containing Sol and Mountclere slackened pace, and drew rein before the
inn.

Fresh horses were immediately called for, and while they were being put
in the two travellers walked up and down.