_Gatty_ said she was much surprised and very thankful to find that Mr. _Heavitree_ was going to see her safe to the End of the first Stage. He had insisted on her going inside, and said he would settle about that with Mrs. _Bowerbank_ afterwards; and the Weather was so dreadful that she had felt herself justified in being persuaded. They were the only inside Passengers, and, with all the Windows up, were not so very cold; but the Windows were so covered with Ice that it was impossible to see through them when Day broke. They knew the Horses were being led, and that they were going very slowly, but did not much mind it, and judged they must have travelled several Miles, when all at once they found the Coach give a great Lurch, and roll over on its Side. They were quite unable to help themselves, and very uncomfortable, and rather frightened: Mr. _Heavitree_ did not like breaking the Window, for fear of the Shivers falling on _Gatty_, and of the Cold to which they should subsequently be exposed. At length, with very great Difficulty, he contrived to open one of the Windows; and the Guard helped him to scramble out, and lift out _Gatty_. To their great Surprise and Mortification they saw just opposite to them a Finger-post, with "_Three Miles to Larkfield_," on it. In Fact, they had only just reached the Heath, where the Road being marked by no Boundaries, was hidden under the Snow, and they had strayed off it and got into a pretty deep Ditch, wherein the Coach was so fast set as to be immoveable. There was a Turnpike about a hundred Yards off, and the Turnpike Man came running out to see if he could give any Assistance; so then all the Men, Passengers and all, set their Shoulders to the Coach to heave it up; but in forcing it up, one of the Fore-Wheels came off. Then the three Horses, which had already broken their Traces, were sent back to _Larkfield_ with the Postilion, Guard, and Ostler that had been leading, and the Passengers had no Help for it but to wait till Post-Chaises were sent. The Turnpike-Man invited them into his Cottage, which they were very thankful to take Shelter in; there was only one outside Passenger, whose Face was purple, almost black, with Cold; and he staggered so that _Gatty_ at first thought he had been drinking, but it was because he was benumbed and dizzy. The Turnpike-Man's Wife received them very kindly: she was ironing, and the Room was very small and steamy, but she made them welcome to stand round her Fire, and said she had put off her Washing as long as she possibly could, because there was only Snow-water for use, now the Pond was frozen. There was a Baby crying in its Cradle all the Time, which its _Mother_ said was because of the Cold; but _Gatty_ thought it might be because the _Mother_ had not Time to attend to it; so she took it up, and cherished it at the Fire, and rubbed its little blue Hands and Feet till she quieted it. Meanwhile, Mr. _Heavitree_ produced some famous hot Gingerbread Nuts, which Mrs.