The laughter of the light-hearted French people, who were preparing for Christmas festivities, grated on my ears; for, although I had succeeded almost beyond my hopes, a great fear rested upon me that I should fail even yet.

Especially was this realized when I knew that our train was hours late, and I knew that did we not arrive in Paris at something like reasonable time, we should miss the express trains for England.
When we got to the French metropolis we were nearly five hours late.

It was not to be wondered at, for the snow fell in blinding drifts, until, in some cases, the railways were completely blocked.

The wonder was how we got to Paris so soon, when we considered what had to be contended with.
Anxiously I inquired after trains by which I could catch the boats for England, but the replies were vague.

First, it was now Christmas Eve, which at all times caused the general traffic to be delayed; and, second, the weather was so bad that to state times of arrival was impossible.
It was now Wednesday morning, and I started from Paris with sixteen hours before me in which to get to London.