A blinding gust seized him as he faced the hill, but he drew down his umbrella and hurried on.

He had a purpose in following her suggestion as to a walk in this direction.

Dark as the grasses were, he meant to search the cemetery for the graves of the Hazens and see what he could learn from them.
He met three persons on his way, all of whom turned to look at him.
This was in the village.

On the hillside he met nobody.

Wind and rain and mud were all; desolation in the prospect and all but desolation in his heart.