Amos bowed his head, and
remained wrapt for a while in holy and happy meditation.

But he had a work before him, and must move on. At last he reached
Marley Heath. Hitherto he had seen no human being, nor indeed any
living thing except a hare which once crossed his path. The heath was
extensive, and had many pathways through it. All, however, were now
more or less covered with snow, though here and there the wind had
exposed a bare spot, and a large pond on one side glowed in the light of
the now rising sun. Riding slowly across the wide common, Amos looked
for some time in vain for the person whom he was to meet, and it was
almost with a feeling of relief that he contemplated the possibility of
no one appearing. The air was sharp and clear now, and, as he gazed on
all sides, an inward shrinking from the proposed meeting came over him;
and then again the consciousness that he was on duty's path nerved him
for whatever might be before him. He had not long to wait. First he
heard the far-off faint barking of a dog, and in a few minutes
afterwards a horseman made his appearance coming up on to the heath from
the opposite quarter to that by which he himself had reached it. The
stranger was manifestly in no hurry, but allowed his horse, a big,
gaunt, and seedy-looking animal, to take its own time, which clearly was
not a very rapid one. The costume of the new-comer was in keeping with
the appearance of his steed, being ample but considerably the worse for
wear. As the two riders slowly approached each other, Amos recognised
his brother-in-law, Mr Orlando Vivian,--there could be no doubt about
it. A theatrical salute on the other's part was answered by Amos with a
quiet inclination of his head.

"Your servant, friend," then said Mr Vivian in a free and easy manner;
"a fine winter's morning you bring with you, though I think we shall
have more snow."

"Good morning," returned Amos, not knowing what else to say, and feeling
far from comfortable.

When they had remained facing each other for a minute, during which the
dark malicious eyes of the player sent a shudder through his companion,
the former said, "You are come to see your sister, I presume; at any
rate this meeting is clearly by appointment made for that purpose.
Shall we proceed?"

"Yes," replied Amos, but with some hesitation in his tone of voice.

"Ah, I understand," said the other; "you were expecting to be conducted
to a _tete-a-tete_. You didn