Thus they went blobbing and groping
their way along, varying the monotony of the journey by an occasional spurt
of muddy water up into their faces, or the more nerve-trying noise of a
floundering stumble over a heap of stones by the roadside. The country
people stared with astonishment as they passed, and the muggers and
tinkers, who were withdrawing their horses from the farmers' fields, stood
trembling, lest they might be the 'pollis' coming after them.

'I think it'll be a fine day,' observed his lordship, after they had
bumped for some time in silence without its getting much lighter. 'I think
it will be a fine day,' he said, taking his chin out of his great
puddingy-spotted neckcloth, and turning his spectacled face up to the
clouds.

'The want of light is its chief fault,' observed Jack, adding, 'it's deuced
dark!'

'Ah, it'll get better of that,' observed his lordship. 'It's not much after
eight yet,' he added, staring at his watch, and with difficulty making out
that it was half-past. 'Days take off terribly about this time of year,' he
observed; 'I've seen about Christmas when it has never been rightly light
all day long.'

They then floundered on again for some time further as before.

'Shouldn't wonder if we have a large field,' at length observed Jack,
bringing his hack alongside his lordship's.

'Shouldn't wonder if Puff himself was to come--all over brooches and rings
as usual,' replied his lordship.

'And Charley Slapp, I'll be bund to say,' observed Jack. 'He a regular
hanger-on of Puff's.'

'Ass, that Slapp,' said his lordship; 'hate the sight of him!'

'So do I,' replied Jack, adding, 'hate a hanger-on!'

'There are the hounds,' said his lordship, as they now approached Culverton
Dean, and a line of something white was discernible travelling the
zig-zagging road on the opposite side.

'Are they, think you?' replied Jack, staring through his great spectacles;
'are they, think you? It looks to me more like a flock of sheep.'

'I believe you're right,' said his lordship, staring too; 'indeed, I hear
the dog. The hounds, however, can't be far ahead.'

They then drew into single file to take the broken horse-track through the
steep woody dean.

'This is the longest sixteen miles I know,' observed Jack, as they emerged
from it, and overtook the sheep.

'It is,' replied his lordship, spurring his hack, who was now beginning to
lag: 'the fact is, it's eighteen,' he continued; 'only if I was