He preferred to hire a team, and be driven there by some indifferent livery-stable man.

Neither prospect was pleasing.

It had been raining all night, and bade fair to rain all day.

The river was clouded with mist; the hills, which are the glory of the place, were obliterated from the landscape, and the road--he had never seen such a road, all little pools and mud.
However, there was no help for it.

The journey must be made, and seeing a livery-stable sign across the road, lost no time in securing the conveyance he needed.