arles made some pretence at annoyance, but I was not to be dissuaded.
I knew very well how invaluable the judgment of an elder man of
experience could be on critical occasions; and besides, I always make a
point of seeing everything I can, on all occasions. In ten minutes I was
down in the dining-room, where, beside a spluttering fire, the brothers,
both heavily booted and ulstered, were drinking coffee by candle-light.
A hastily laid breakfast was on the table, but it had not been touched.
The gray morning light was turning the flame of the candles to a rusty
yellow, and outside, upon the wide stone sills, the snow lay high
against the panes.

Ralph was sitting with bent head by the fire, stick and cap in hand, his
heavy boot beating the floor impatiently. He looked up as I came in, but
did not speak. The ruddy color in his cheeks was faded, his face was
drawn and set. He looked ten years older.

"We ought to be off," he said at last, in a low voice.

"No hurry," replied Charles; "finish your coffee."

I hastily drank some also, and told Charles that I was coming with them.

"No!" said Charles.

"Yes!" I replied. "You are going to London, and so am I. I have decided
to curtail my visit by a few days, under the circumstances. I shall
travel up with you. My luggage can follow."

As soon as Charles grasped the idea that I was not going to return to
Stoke Moreton his opposition melted away; he even seemed to hail my
departure with a certain sense of relief.

"As you like," he said. "You can leave at this unearthly hour if you
wish, and travel with us as far as Paddington."

I nodded, and went after my great-coat. Of course I had not the
slightest intention of leaving them at Paddington; but I felt that the
time had not arrived to say so.

"Here comes the dog-cart," said Charles, as I returned.

Ralph was already on his feet. But the dog-cart, with its great bay
horse, could not be brought up to the door. The snow had drifted heavily
before the steps, and right up into the archway, and the cart had to go
round to the back again before we could get in and start. Charles took
the reins, and his brother got up beside him. The groom and I squeezed
ourselves into the back seat. I could see that I was only allowed to
come on sufferance, and that at the last moment they would have been
willing to dispense with my presence. However, I felt that I should
never have forgiven myself if I had let them go alone. Charles was