n, but from the court where the farmer's gig awaited them. In
the far end of the firelit room lay my companions, the one silent, the
other clamorously noisy, the images of death and drunkenness. Little
wonder if I were tempted to join in the choruses below, and sometimes
could hardly refrain from laughter, and sometimes, I believe, from
tears--so unmitigated was the tedium, so cruel the suspense, of this
period.

At last, about six at night, I should fancy, the noisy minstrels
appeared in the court, headed by Fenn with a lantern, and knocking
together as they came. The visitors clambered noisily into the gig, one
of them shook the reins, and they were snatched out of sight and hearing
with a suddenness that partook of the nature of prodigy. I am well aware
there is a Providence for drunken men, that holds the reins for them and
presides over their troubles; doubtless he had his work cut out for him
with this particular gigful! Fenn rescued his toes with an ejaculation
from under the departing wheels, and turned at once with uncertain steps
and devious lantern to the far end of the court. There, through the open
doors of a coach-house, the shock-headed lad was already to be seen
drawing forth the covered cart. If I wished any private talk with our
host, it must be now or never.

Accordingly I groped my way downstairs, and came to him as he looked on
at and lighted the harnessing of the horses.

"The hour approaches when we have to part," said I; "and I shall be
obliged if you will tell your servant to drop me at the nearest point
for Dunstable. I am determined to go so far with our friends, Colonel X
and Major Y, but my business is peremptory, and it takes me to the
neighbourhood of Dunstable."

Orders were given, to my satisfaction, with an obsequiousness that
seemed only inflamed by his potations.

CHAPTER XIV

TRAVELS OF THE COVERED CART

My companions were aroused with difficulty: the Colonel, poor old
gentleman, to a sort of permanent dream, in which you could say of him
only that he was very deaf and anxiously polite; the Major still maudlin
drunk. We had a dish of tea by the fireside, and then issued like
criminals into the scathing cold of the night. For the weather had in
the meantime changed. Upon the cessation of the rain, a strict frost had
succeeded. The moon, being young, was already near the zenith when we
started, glittered everywhere on sheets of ice, and sparkled in ten
thousand icicles