The stroke was a good one.' Havill was silent till he said, 'I think these gusts mean that we are to have a storm of rain.' Dare looked up.

The sky was overcast, the trees shivered, and a drop or two began to strike into the walkers' coats from the east.

They were not far from the inn at Sleeping-Green, where Dare had lodgings, occupying the rooms which had been used by Somerset till he gave them up for more commodious chambers at Markton; and they decided to turn in there till the rain should be over.
Having possessed himself of Somerset's brains Havill was inclined to be jovial, and ordered the best in wines that the house afforded.

Before starting from home they had drunk as much as was good for them; so that their potations here soon began to have a marked effect upon their tongues.

The rain beat upon the windows with a dull dogged pertinacity which seemed to signify boundless reserves of the same and long continuance.