not
thirty, and Ralph several years younger. An experienced man of fifty to
consult in case of need might be of the greatest assistance in an
emergency.

"Quicker!" said Ralph; "we shall miss the train."

"No quicker, if we mean to catch it," said Charles. "I allowed ten
minutes extra for the snow. We shall do it if we go quietly, but not if
I let him go. An upset would clinch the matter."

We drove noiselessly through the great gates with their stone lions on
either side, rampant in wreaths of snow, and up the village street,
where life was hardly stirring yet. The sun was rising large and red, a
ball of dull fire in the heavy sky. It seemed to be rising on a dead
world. Before us (only to be seen on my part by craning round) stretched
the long white road. At intervals, here and there among the shrouded
fields, lay cottages half hidden by a white network of trees. Groups of
yellow sheep stood clustered together under hedge-rows, motionless in
the low mist, and making no sound. A lonely colt, with tail erect, ran
beside us on the other side of the hedge as far as his field would allow
him, his heavy hoofs falling noiseless in the snow. The cold was
intense.

"There will be a drift at the bottom of Farrow hill," said Ralph; "we
shall be late for the train."

And in truth, as we came cautiously down the hill, on turning a corner
we beheld a smooth sheet of snow lapping over the top of the hedge on
one side, like iced sugar on a cake, and sloping downward to the ditch
on the other side of the road.

"Hold on!" cried Charles, as I stood up to look; and in another moment
we were pushing our way through the snow, keeping as near the ditch as
possible--too near, as it turned out. But it was not to be. A few yards
in front of us lay the road--snowy, but practicable; but we could not
reach it. We swayed backward and forward; we tilted up and down; Charles
whistled, and made divers consolatory and encouraging sounds to the bay
horse; but the bay horse began to plunge--he made a side movement--one
wheel crunched down through the ice in the ditch, and all was over--at
least, all in the cart were. We fell soft--I most providentially
alighting on the groom, who was young, and inclined to be plump, and
thus breaking a fall which to a heavy man of my age might have been
serious. Charles and Ralph were up in a moment.

"I thought I could not do it; but it was worth a trial," said Charles,
shaking himself. "George, look after th