If there should be a snowstorm the horses would never be able to drag the carriage up the steepest bit of the way.

Here, however, Lord Maulevrier's obstinacy came into play.

He would not endure another night at an hotel so near his own house.

He was sick to death of travelling, and wanted to be at rest among comfortable surroundings.
'It was murder to bring me here,' he said to his wife.

'If I had gone to Hastings I should have been a new man by this time.