Some of the passengers had come from Wolverton, ten miles past Kingston, and one might freeze to death on a long stage journey a day like that.

There was, perhaps, less danger in a walk, but there was danger in that should the cold increase, and it did increase hourly.

Madelon's feet grew more and more numb.

She stamped them from time to time, but more from instinct than from any real appreciation of the discomfort they gave her.

So wrought up was she with zeal that it seemed she might have set out to walk through a fiery furnace as soon as through this frozen waste, and perhaps have had her flesh consumed to ashes, with her soul still intent upon its one purpose.