In an hour he will be easy." The beast was led off, another put in its place, and the postilions were cracking their whips, when out of the darkness a knot of mounted men rode into the lamplight.

There were at least a dozen of them, and at their head rode a man who at the sight of Lovel pulled up sharp.
"Mr.Lovel!" he cried.

"What brings you into these wilds in such weather?
Can I be of service?
My house is not a mile off." "I thank you, Colonel Flowerdue, but I think the mischief is now righted.

I go on a journey into Oxfordshire with my daughter, and the snow has delayed us." He presented the young Parliament soldier, a cousin of Fairfax, to Cecily and Tony, the latter of whom eyed with disfavour the posse of grave Ironside troopers.
"You will never get to Wendover this night," said Flowerdue.

"The road higher up is smothered four feet deep.