.

We reached a not very promising looking village about 4 o'clock, and I concluded to tie up for the day; munching fruit and fogging the hood with pipe-smoke had grown monotonous; I could not have the hood furled, because the floods of rain fell unceasingly.
The tavern was on the river bank, as is the custom.

It was dull there, and melancholy--nothing to do but look out of the window into the drenching rain, and shiver; one could do that, for it was bleak and cold and windy, and country France furnishes no fire.

Winter overcoats did not help me much; they had to be supplemented with rugs.

The raindrops were so large and struck the river with such force that they knocked up the water like pebble-splashes.
"With the exception of a very occasional woodenshod peasant, nobody was abroad in this bitter weather--I mean nobody of our sex.