Where in the world are you bound for THIS night ?" The minister equivocated.

He said he had been in the house all day and felt like a walk.
"Well, take an umbrella, then," was the housekeeper's advice.

"You'll need it before you get back, I cal'late." It was dark enough and thick enough, in all conscience.

The main road was a black, wet void, through which gleams from lighted windows were but vague, yellow blotches.

The umbrella was useful in the same way that a blind man's cane is useful, in feeling the way.