Lord Maulevrier was out of health and feeble, and grumbled a good deal about the fatigue of the journey, the badness of the weather, which was dull and cold, east winds all day, and a light frost morning and night.

As they progressed northward the sky looked grayer, the air became more biting.

His lordship insisted upon the stages being shortened.

He lay in bed at his hotel till noon, and was seldom ready to start till two o'clock.

He could see no reason for haste; the winter would be long enough in all conscience at Fellside.