"How long is the journey, sir?" asked one of the drivers. "I ask so that I may know how fast to drive the horses."
"Between six and seven leagues," I answered.
"Ah, they can go that distance at a good pace if we on the box don't freeze to death," he returned, buttoning up his greatcoat, bringing the rug tightly about him and drawing on his gloves.
I sprang from the wheel and started to enter the coach just as George left Pickering, but when I put my foot on the step, I saw a small man sitting in the furthest corner of the back seat.
"Come, come, what are you doing here? And who are you?" I asked, stepping into the coach for the purpose of pulling the fellow out.
I was greeted by a soft laugh and this answer: "I am sitting here, and my name is Betty Pickering."
"My God, Betty, you can't go with us," I exclaimed, making ready to help her out of the coach.
But she put her hand over my mouth to silence me and whispered, "The men on the box must not know me."
Betty pushed me backward out of the coach, came out herself and led me to George, who, by that time, was halfway across the courtyard.
"Who are you?" cried George, surprised to see the little man beside me, for Betty was in greatcoat, trousers, and boots.
"I am Betty, and Baron Ned says I shall not go with you."
"No, no, Betty," answered George. "See the snow, the sleet, and the storm. It is freezing and the wind cuts like a knife. It would kill you to go with us."
"Think a moment," she answered, whispering, so that her words might not be overheard by the men on the box. "Mistress Jennings may need the help of a woman, but in any case you shall not have the coach and horses if I don't go."
"Yes, yes, come on! We are wasting valuable time," answered Betty, starting toward the coach.
George and I were helpless against Betty's will, so we said nothing more, and she climbed into the coach, taking her former place at the left end of the back seat. George followed, taking the middle place next to her, and after giving the word to start, I followed George, taking the right hand corner, thus leaving him between Betty and me, an arrangement that did not at all please me. But my disappointment was short lived, for hardly was I seated till Betty spoke in tones plainly showing that she was pouting:--