"I never travelled for four days without being put to it for a piece of rope." They left the postillion to make what he could of the berlin and walked forward in the clear night to Ala.

The shock of the tumble had alarmed Mrs.Misset; the fatigue of the journey had strained her endurance to the utmost.

She made no complaint, but she could walk but slowly and with many rests by the way.

It took a long while for them to reach the village.

They saw the lights diminish in the houses; the stars grew pale; there came a hint of morning in the air.