gratulate myself on having got under shelter before it began.
This had continu'd a good half hour, when bethinking me of some directions to be given to the coachman, I sent for him, and not caring that his shoes should soil the very clean parlour, in which the cloth was laid, I stept into the hall-kitchen, where he was, and where, whilst I was talking to him, I slantingly observ'd two horsemen driven in by the weather, and both wringing wet? one of whom was asking if they could be assisted with a change, till their cloaths could be dried: but heavens! who can express what I felt at the sound of a voice, ever present to my heart, and that it now rebounded at? or when pointing my eyes towards the person it came from, they confirm'd its information; in spite of so long an absence, and of a dress one would have imagin'd studied for disguise: a horseman's great coat with a stand-up cape, and his hat flapp'd; but what could escape the piercing alertness of a
sense
