As the goods had all to be carried to Budmouth that night, the excisemen's next object was to find horses and carts for the journey, and they went about the village for that purpose.

Latimer strode hither and thither with a lump of chalk in his hand, marking broad-arrows so vigorously on every vehicle and set of harness that he came across, that it seemed as if he would chalk broad-arrows on the very hedges and roads.
The owner of every conveyance so marked was bound to give it up for Government purposes.

Stockdale, who had had enough of the scene, turned indoors thoughtful and depressed.

Lizzy was already there, having come in at the back, though she had not yet taken off her bonnet.

She looked tired, and her mood was not much brighter than his own.