CHAPTER XVI .-- THE NEW-COMER TAKES KINDLY TO THE DINGLE AND ITS OCCUPANTS,.
ABOUT WHOM HE FORMS HIS OWN OPINIONS.
It might be about ten o'clock at night.

Belle, the postillion, and myself, sat just within the tent, by a fire of charcoal which I had kindled in the chafing-pan.

The man had removed the harness from his horses, and, after tethering their legs, had left them for the night in the field above, to regale themselves on what grass they could find.

The rain had long since entirely ceased, and the moon and stars shone bright in the firmament, up to which, putting aside the canvas, I occasionally looked from the depths of the dingle.

Large drops of water, however, falling now and then upon the tent from the neighbouring trees, would have served, could we have forgotten it, to remind us of the recent storm, and also a certain chilliness in the atmosphere, unusual to the season, proceeding from the moisture with which the ground was saturated; yet these circumstances only served to make our party enjoy the charcoal fire the more.