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darkened again； with two great white casks standing on end。 Our horses
tumbled down in solitary places； and we got them up；which was the
pleasantest variety I had； for it warmed me。 And it snowed and snowed；
and still it snowed； and never left off snowing。 All night long we went
on in this manner。 Thus we came round the clock； upon the Great North
Road； to the performance of Auld Lang Syne by day again。 And it
snowed and snowed； and still it snowed； and never left off snowing。
I forget now where we were at noon on the second day； and where we
ought to have been； but I know that we were scores of miles behindhand；
and that our case was growing worse every hour。 The drift was
becoming prodigiously deep； landmarks were getting snowed out； the road
and the fields were all one； instead of having fences and hedge…rows to
guide us； we went crunching on over an unbroken surface of ghastly white
that might sink beneath us at any moment and drop us down a whole
hillside。 Still the coachman and guard who kept together on the box；
always in council； and looking well about themmade out the track with
astonishing sagacity。
When we came in sight of a town； it looked； to my fancy； like a large
drawing on a slate； with abundance of slate…pencil expended on the
churches and houses where the snow lay thickest。 When we came within
a town； and found the church clocks all stopped； the dial… faces choked
with snow； and the inn…signs blotted out； it seemed as if the whole place
were overgrown with white moss。 As to the coach； it was a mere
snowball； similarly； the men and boys who ran along beside us to the
town's end； turning our clogged wheels and encouraging our horses； were
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THE HOLLY…TREETHREE BRANCHES
men and boys of snow； and the bleak wild solitude to which they at last
dismissed us was a snowy Sahara。 One would have thought this enough：
notwithstanding which； I pledge my word that it snowed and snowed； and
still it snowed； and never left off snowing。
We performed Auld Lang Syne the whole day； seeing nothing； out of
towns and villages； but the track of stoats； hares； and foxes； and sometimes
of birds。 At nine o'clock at night； on a Yorkshire moor； a cheerful burst
from our horn； and a welcome sound of talking； with a glimmering and
moving about of lanterns； roused me from my drowsy state。 I found that
we were going to change。
They helped me out； and I said to a waiter； whose bare head became as
white as King Lear's in a single minute； 〃What Inn is this？〃
〃The Holly…Tree； sir；〃 said he。
〃Upon my word； I believe；〃 said I； apologetically； to the guard and
coachman； 〃that I must stop here。〃
Now the landlord； and the landlady； and the ostler； and the post… boy；
and all the stable authorities； had already asked the coachman； to the wide…
eyed interest of all the rest of the establishment； if he meant to go on。
The coachman had already replied； 〃Yes； he'd take her through it；〃
meaning by Her the coach；〃if so be as George would stand by him。〃
George was the guard； and he had already sworn that he would stand by
him。 So the helpers were already getting the horses out。
My declaring myself beaten； after this parley； was not an
announcement without preparation。 Indeed； but for the way to the
announcement being smoothed by the parley； I more than doubt whether；
as an innately bashful man； I should have had the confidence to make it。
As it was； it received the approval even of the guard and coachman。
Therefore； with many confirmations of my inclining； and many remarks
from one bystander to another； that the gentleman could go for'ard by the
mail to…morrow； whereas to…night he would only be froze； and where was
the good of a gentleman being frozeah； let alone buried alive （which
latter clause was added by a humorous helper as a joke at my expense； and
was extremely well received）； I saw my portmanteau got out stiff； like a
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THE HOLLY…TREETHREE BRANCHES
frozen body； did the handsome thing by the guard and coachman； wished
them good… night and a prosperous journey； and； a little ashamed of
myself； after all； for leaving them to fight it out alone； followed the
landlord； landlady； and waiter of the Holly…Tree up…stairs。
I thought I had never seen such a large room as that into which they
showed me。 It had five windows； with dark red curtains that would have
absorbed the light of a general illumination； and there were complications
of drapery at the top of the curtains； that went wandering about the wall in
a most extraordinary manner。 I asked for a smaller room； and they told
me there was no smaller room。
They could screen me in； however； the landlord said。 They brought a
great old japanned screen； with natives （Japanese； I suppose） engaged in a
variety of idiotic pursuits all over it； and left me roasting whole before an
immense fire。
My bedroom was some quarter of a mile off； up a great staircase at the
end of a long gallery； and nobody knows what a misery this is to a bashful
man who would rather not meet people on the stairs。 It was the grimmest
room I have ever had the nightmare in； and all the furniture； from the four
posts of the bed to the two old silver candle…sticks； was tall； high…
shouldered； and spindle…waisted。 Below； in my sitting…room； if I looked
round my screen； the wind rushed at me like a mad bull； if I stuck to my
arm…chair； the fire scorched me to the colour of a new brick。 The
chimney…piece was very high； and there was a bad glasswhat I may call a
wavy glass above it； which； when I stood up； just showed me my anterior
phrenological developments；and these never look well； in any subject；
cut short off at the eyebrow。 If I stood with my back to the fire； a gloomy
vault of darkness above and beyond the screen insisted on being looked at；
and； in its dim remoteness； the drapery of the ten curtains of the five
windows went twisting and creeping about； like a nest of gigantic worms。
I suppose that what I observe in myself must be observed by some
other men of similar character in themselves； therefore I am emboldened
to mention； that； when I travel； I never arrive at a place but I immediately
want to go away from it。 Before I had finished my supper of broiled fowl
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and mulled port； I had impressed upon the waiter in detail my
arrangements for departure in the morning。 Breakfast and bill at eight。
Fly at nine。 Two horses； or； if needful； even four。
Tired though I was； the night appeared about a week long。 In cases
of nightmare； I thought of Angela； and felt more depressed than ever by
the reflection that I was on the shortest road to Gretna Green。 What had I
to do with Gretna Green？ I was not going that way to the Devil； but by
the American route； I remarked in my bitterness。
In the morning I found that it was snowing still； that it had snowed all
night； and that I was snowed up。 Nothing could get out of that spot on
the moor； or could come at it； until the road had been cut out by labourers
from the market…town。 When they might cut their way to the Holly…Tree
nobody could tell me。
It was now Christmas…eve。 I should have had a dismal Christmas…
time of it anywhere； and consequently that did not so much matter； still；
being snowed up was like dying of frost； a thing I had not bargained for。
I felt very lonely。 Yet I could no more have proposed to the landlord and
landlady to admit me to their society （though I should have liked itvery
much） than I could have asked them to present me with a piece of plate。
Here my great secret； the real bashfulness of