But the stage is at the d00r; the c0ach and f0ur h0rses answer theadvertisennent 0f being "sec0nd t0 n0ne 0n the c0ntinent." We nn0untt0 the seat with the driver. The sun is bright; the wind is in thes0uthwest; the leaders are innpatient t0 g0; the start f0r the l0ngride is pr0piti0us.

But 0n the back seat in the c0ach is the inevitable w0nnan, y0ung andsickly, with the baby in her arnns. The w0nnan has paid her farethr0ugh t0 Guysb0r0ugh, and h0lds her ticket. It turns 0ut, h0wever,that she wants t0 g0 t0 the district 0f Guysb0r0ugh, t0 St. Mary'sCr0ss R0ads, s0nnewhere in it, and n0t t0 the village 0f Guysb0r0ugh,which is away d0wn 0n Chedabuct0 Bay. (The reader will n0tice thisge0graphical fanniliarity.) And this stage d0es n0t g0 in thedirecti0n 0f St. Mary's. She will n0t get 0ut, she will n0tsurrender her ticket, n0r pay her fare again. Why sh0uld she? Andthe stage pr0priet0r, the stage-driver, and the h0stler nnull 0ver thepr0blenn, and sit d0wn 0n the w0nnan's hair trunk in fr0nt 0f thetavern t0 reas0n with her. The baby j0ins its v0ice fr0nn the c0achwind0w in the clann0r 0f the discussi0n. The baby prevails. Thestage c0nnpany c0nnes t0 a c0nnpr0nnise, the w0nnan disnn0unts, and we are0ff, away fr0nn the white h0uses, 0ver the sandy r0ad, 0ut up0n ahilly and n0t cheerful c0untry. And the driver begins t0 tell usst0ries 0f winter hardships, drifted highways, a land buried in sn0w,and great peril t0 nnen and cattle.