The horse laid back his ears.

A last gust from the opposing quarter shook the furzes and the clumps of long pale grass, and straight fell columns of rattling white rain, and in a minute he was closed in by a hissing ring.

Men thus pelted abandon without protest the hope of retaining a dry particle of clothing on their persons.

Completely drenched, the track lost, everything in dense gloom beyond the white enclosure that moved with him, Evan flung the reins to the horse, and curiously watched him footing on; for physical discomfort balanced his mental perturbation, and he who had just been chafing was now quite calm.
Was that a shepherd crouched under the thorn?
The place betokened a shepherd, but it really looked like a bundle of the opposite sex; and it proved to be a woman gathered up with her gown over her head.
Apparently, Mr.Evan Harrington was destined for these encounters.

The thunder rolled as he stopped by her side and called out to her.