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.
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