level voice as before, "you would not mind if I use my sex's privilege, and beg you'll be so good as come with me as far as the ford. The roads be monstrous bad, and I've but this little lad with me, to help me at a pinch to get the cart along."
Tregenna assented at once; though by no means so confiding or so self-confident as the brigadier, and well aware that there was something rather uncanny, rather mysterious, about this woman who could fell a man like an ox while addressing him with lamb-like gentleness; he was too young, too full-blooded, not to relish the adventure, and was quite ready to face the danger into which she might lead him.
His first idea had been that the cartful of hay was merely a receptacle for contraband goods, and it had been his intention to make this suggestion to the brigadier. But this request on the part of the woman that he should accompany her on her drive, necessarily put that notion out of his head.
He got up beside her, the boy mounted behind, and they started on their journey. jogging through the miry, rutty roads at a snail's pace, with the lantern swinging on the
