These holes were full of dark water, frightful to look at; while along the side of the road went deep black ditches half-full of the same dark water.

There was no danger of the cart getting into them, for the ruts were too deep to let the wheels out; but it jolted so dreadfully from side to side, as it crawled along, that Annie was afraid every other moment of being tilted into one of the frightful pools.

Across the waste floated now and then the cry of a bird, but other sound there was none in this land of drearihead.

Next came some scattered and ragged fields, the skirts of cultivation, which seemed to draw closer and closer together, while the soil grew richer and more hopeful, till, after two miles more, they entered the first straggling precincts of the grey market-town.
By this time the stars were shining clear in the cold, frosty sky, and candles or train-oil lamps were burning in most of the houses; for all these things took place long before gas had been heard of in those quarters.

A few faces were pressed close to the window-panes as the cart passed; and some rather untidy women came to the house-doors to look.