e, and, furthermore, had learnt what life was, with its hours full
of health, and crammed with fresh adventures and experiences, as, of
course, it should be. His muscles were hard and flexible as steel, his
heart strong with life, his brain quick to learn whatsoever his master
thought best that he should know. Health, strength, what happiness it all
was! The neighbourhood of those waggons had been rather depressing, and
the crack of those whips somewhat disconcerting; but he did not stop to
reason why. It was enough that he and his master were together. The past
might look after itself, and so might the future; this was the
all-sufficient present.

A deep silence reigned in the valley; even the larch and the firs had
given up their songs. There was the scrunch of the foot at each step, and
now and then a rustle in the hedge, as a bramble became overweighted with
snow and dislodged its load into the ditch, or last year's leaves, still
clinging to some oak, rustled and were still again. Otherwise the world
was dead or asleep; it made little difference which.

A cottage was passed further on, and a chink of light from a candle
within showed that the snowflakes were still falling fast. This way would
be impassable by morning. At the turn of the lane voices were heard. They
were some way off; but it was easy to recognise that they were those of
two men talking. Presently the voices became more audible. It was too
dark to see who the men were as they passed: at night, when snow is
falling, those met are up and gone by almost before their approach is
realised. There was just time for a "Good-night," with a "Good-night to
you, Sir," in reply.

For an instant there was silence: then the men began talking again.

"Bless the Lord!--did you see who that was, Tom, and on such a night as
this!" remarked one.

"Don't know as I know'd un."

"Not know un?"

"Why, bless the life on yer--that's Him an' his dog!"

"There, was it now? Him an' his dog, for sure. Carrying un, wus he? Like
un."

"Ah--allus together, ain't 'em?"

"For his part, he don't seem to have much else."

It would be well to get on, and not to stand there gaping into the
darkness, listening to what you were never meant to hear. The truth of
the old saying generally holds good; and sometimes words accidentally
overheard in such ways are fixed in the mind for life. These last were
like a stab.

"Don't seem to have much else?" What did the fellow mean? How in