The two or three stragglers who met the minister carried lanterns.

One of these stragglers was Mr.Pepper.Kyan was astonished.
"Well, I snum!" cried Kyan, raising the lantern.

"If 'tain't Mr.Ellery.
Where you bound this kind of night ?" Before the minister could answer, a stately figure appeared and joined the pair.

Lavinia, of course.
"Well, Mr.Ellery," she said.

"Ain't you lost, out in this fog?
Anybody sick ?" No, no one was sick.
"That's a mercy.