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box again with his watchful； steady face； and his business…like
“Get on； my lad！”
When we were changing horses the next time； he came from the
stable yard； and with the wet snow encrusted upon him； and
dropping off him—plashing and crashing through it to his wet
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knees； as he had been doing frequently since we left Saint
Albans—and spoke to me at the carriage side。
“Keep up your spirits。 It’s certainly true that she came on here；
Miss Summerson。 There’s not a doubt of the dress by this time；
and the dress has been seen here。”
“Still on foot？” said I。
“Still on foot。 I think the gentleman you mentioned must be the
point she’s aiming at； and yet I don’t like his living down in her
own part of the country； neither。”
“I know so little；” said I。 “There may be some one else nearer
here； of whom I never heard。”
“That’s true。 But whatever you do； don’t you fall a crying； my
dear； and don’t you worry yourself no more than you can help。 Get
on； my lad！”
The sleet fell all that day unceasingly； a thick mist came on
early； and it never rose or lightened for a moment。 Such roads I
had never seen。 I sometimes feared we had missed the way and
got into the ploughed grounds； or the marshes。 If I ever thought of
the time I had been out； it presented itself as an indefinite period
of great duration； and I seemed； in a strange way； never to have
been free from the anxiety under which I then laboured。
As we advanced； I began to feel misgivings that my companion
lost confidence。 He was the same as before with all the roadside
people； but he looked graver when he sat by himself on the box。 I
saw his finger uneasily going across and across his mouth； during
the whole of one long weary stage。 I overheard that he began to
ask the drivers of coaches and other vehicles coming towards us；
what passengers they had seen in other coaches and vehicles that
were in advance。 Their replies did not encourage him。 He always
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gave me a reassuring beck of his finger； and lift of his eyelid as he
got upon the box again； but he seemed perplexed now； when he
said； “Get on； my lad！”
At last； when we were changing； he told me that he had lost the
track of the dress so long that he began to be surprised。 It was
nothing； he said； to lose such a track for one while； and to take it
up for another while； and so on； but it had disappeared here in an
unaccountable manner； and we had not come upon it since。 This
corroborated the apprehensions I had formed； when he began to
look at direction…posts； and to leave the carriage at cross roads for
a quarter of an hour at a time； while he explored them。 But； I was
not to be downhearted； he told me； for it was as likely as not that
the next stage might set us right again。
The next stage； however； ended as that one ended； we had no
new clue。 There was a spacious inn here； solitary； but a
comfortable substantial building； and as we drove in under a large
gateway before I knew it； where a landlady and her pretty
daughters came to the carriage door； entreating me to alight and
refresh myself while the horses were making ready； I thought it
would be uncharitable to refuse。 They took me upstairs to a warm
room； and left me there。
It was at the corner of the house； I remember； looking two ways。
On one side； to a stable…yard open to a by…road； where the ostlers
were unharnessing the splashed and tired horses from the muddy
carriage； and beyond that to the by…road itself； across which the
sign was heavily swinging； on the other side； to a wood of dark
pine…trees。 Their branches were incumbered with snow； and it
silently dropped off in wet heaps while I stood at the window。
Night was setting in； and its bleakness was enhanced by the
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contrast of the pictured fire glowing and gleaming in the window…
pane。 As I looked among the stems of the trees； and followed the
discoloured marks in the snow where the thaw was sinking into it
and undermining it； I thought of the motherly face brightly set off
by daughters that had just now welcomed me； and of my mother
lying down in such a wood to die。
I was frightened when I found them all about me； but I
remembered that before I fainted I tried very hard not to do it； and
that was some little comfort。 They cushioned me up； on a large
sofa by the fire； and then the comely landlady told me that I must
travel no further tonight； but must go to bed。 But this put me into
such a tremble lest they should detain me there； that she soon
recalled her words； and compromised for a rest of half…an…hour。
A good endearing creature she was。 She； and her three fair girls
all so busy about me。 I was to take hot soup and broiled fowl； while
Mr Bucket dried himself and dined elsewhere； but I could not do it
when a snug round table was presently spread by the fireside；
though I was very unwilling to disappoint them。 However； I could
take some toast and some hot negus； and as I really enjoyed that
refreshment； it made some recompense。
Punctual to the time； at the half…hour’s end the carriage came
rumbling under the gateway； and they took me down； warmed；
refreshed； comforted by kindness； and safe （I assured them） not to
faint any more。 After I had got in and had taken a grateful leave of
them all； the youngest daughter—a blooming girl of nineteen； who
was to be the first married； they had told me—got upon the
carriage step； reached in； and kissed me。 I have never seen her；
from that hour； but I think of her to this hour as my friend。
The transparent windows with the fire and light； looking so
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bright and warm from the cold darkness out of doors； were soon
gone； and again we were crushing and churning the loose snow。
We went on with toil enough； but the dismal roads were not much
worse than they had been； and the stage was only nine miles。 My
companion smoking on the box—I had thought at the last inn of
begging him to do so； when I saw him standing at a great fire in a
comfortable cloud of tobacco—was as vigilant as ever； and as
quickly down and up again； when we came to any human abode or
any human creature。 He had lighted his little dark lantern； which
seemed to be a favourite with him； for we had lamps to the
carriage； and every now and then he turned it upon me； to see that
I was