And he bent forward, and arranged the costly furs round the slight form. "Quite," she said; but she shrank into her corner with a little shiver. Stephen left her to herself, but would not remain silent, chatting with, or rather to, Mrs. Davenant, in a strain of easy cheerfulness, his eyes wandering to the pale face just showing above the pile of furs. Their hoofs ringing on the road, which a few hours of early frost had made hard, the horses, the finest pair in the county, for Stephen was critical in such matters and liked the best, spun the distance, and again, almost punctual to the minute, the village of Netherton, to which Stephen had sent the change of horses, was reached. Slummers stepped down from the box, and was seen to enter the inn yard. "The horses ought to be out and waiting," said Stephen, with a little impatience. A moment or two passed, and then Slummers came to the carriage door. Stephen jumped out. "What is it? Why do you not put the horses to?"--for the others had been taken out and were standing in the stable. Slummers, for the first time in his life, changed color and hesitated. "There has been some mistake, sir." "Mistake!" "The horses are not here." Stephen glared at him. "I can't understand it, sir. I gave your orders most minutely, but George has taken the horses on to Clumley." Stephen bit his lip and glanced at the carriage. "Put the others back," he said, "and tell Masters to drive for his life." Slummers hesitated and went to the coachman, coming back in a moment with an uneasy countenance. "I'm--I'm afraid they won't reach Clumley in time, sir," he said. "Masters says that it is impossible. Calculating on fresh horses, he has forced them a bit on the road, and they are used up. If you will look at them, sir----" Stephen uttered an oath, and his face twitched. The coachman came up, troubled but respectful. It was no fault of his. "I thought I should get the change here, sir. I couldn't do it, unless the horses had a quarter of an hour and a wipe down, and then----" He paused and shook his head. Stephen controlled himself, though his face was white. "A quarter of an hour," he said. "We will wait so long, and not a moment longer. Then drive as if your life depended on it. Do not spare the horses." Then he went to the carriage and forced a smile. "A little delay," he said, cheerfully. "Would you like to get out for a quarter of an hour, darling?" Una shook her head. "I do not care"; but Mrs. Davenant looked at her and spoke out. "Yes, Stephen," she said. "My dear, you are half frozen." Stephen went to the window of the inn and looked into the room, then went back. "Come," he said. "There is a pleasant fire. A rest and the warmth will do you good. Come," and, wrapping a huge fur round her, he took her on his arm and entered the inn.