Page:Nightmare Abbey (1818).djvu/74

 The conversation was interrupted by the re-appearance of Mr. Toobad, covered with mud. He just shewed himself at the door, muttered "The devil is come among you!" and vanished. The road which connected Nightmare Abbey with the civilised world was artificially raised above the level of the fens, and ran through them in a straight line as far as the eye could reach, with a ditch on each side, of which the water was rendered invisible by the aquatic vegetation that covered the surface. Into one of these ditches the sudden action of a shy horse, which took fright at a windmill, had precipitated the travelling chariot of Mr. Toobad, who had been reduced to the necessity of scrambling, in dismal plight, through the window. One of the wheels was found to be broken; and Mr. Toobad, leaving the postilion to get the chariot as well as he