But from what she could gather of the incoherent and various projects they discussed, one after another--disputing upon each with frightful oaths and scarce intelligible slang, she could only learn that it was resolved at all events to leave the district in which they were--but whither seemed yet all undecided.

The cart halted at last at a miserable-looking hut, which the signpost announced to be an inn that afforded good accommodation to travellers; to which announcement was annexed the following epigrammatic distich: "Old Tom, he is the best of gin; Drink him once, and you'll drink him _agin_!" The hovel stood so remote from all other habitations, and the waste around was so bare of trees, and even shrubs, that Alice saw with despair that all hope of flight in such a place would be indeed a chimera.

But to make assurance doubly sure, Darvil himself, lifting her from the cart, conducted her up a broken and unlighted staircase, into a sort of loft rather than a room, and, rudely pushing her in, turned the key upon her, and descended.

The weather was cold, the livid damps hung upon the distained walls, and there was neither fire nor hearth; but thinly clad as she was--her cloak and shawl her principal covering--she did not feel the cold, for her heart was more chilly than the airs of heaven.

At noon an old woman brought her some food, which, consisting of fish and poached game, was better than might have been expected in such a place, and what would have been deemed a feast under her father's roof.