"Oh, no," said Mrs. S - -; "bad beginnings make good endings, you
know. Let us go on; it will be far better walking than riding such a
dreadful day. My feet are half-frozen already with sitting still."
"But, my dear madam," expostulated Mr. T - -, "consider the distance,
the road, the dark, dull day, and our imperfect knowledge of the
path. I will get the cutter mended to-morrow; and the day after we
may be able to proceed."
"Delays are dangerous," said the pertinacious Emilia, who,
woman-like, was determined to have her own way. "Now, or never.
While we wait for the broken cutter, the broken-hearted Mrs. N - -
may starve. We can stop at Colonel C - -'s and warm ourselves, and
you can leave the cutter at his house until our return."
"It was upon your account that I proposed the delay," said the good
Mr. T - -, taking the sack, which was no inconsiderable weight, upon
his shoulder, and driving his horse before him into neighbour W - -'s
stable. "Where you go, I am ready to follow."
When we arrived, Colonel C - -'s family were at breakfast, of which
they made us partake; and after vainly endeavouring to dissuade us
from what appeared to them our Quixotic expedition, Mrs. C - - added
a dozen fine white fish to the contents of the sack, and sent her
youngest son to help Mr. T - - along with his burthen, and to bear
us company on our desolate road.
