Without,thenightwascoldandwet,butinthesmallparlourofLaburnumvillatheblindsweredrawnandthefireburnedbrightly. theformer,whopossessedideasaboutthegameinvolvingradicalchances,puttinghiskingintosuchsharpandunnecessaryperilsthatitevenprovokedcommentfromthewhite-hairedoldladyknittingplacidlybythefire. "Harkatthewind,"saidMr.White,who,havingseenafatalmistakeafteritwastoolate,wasamiablydesirousofpreventinghissonfromseeingit. "I'mlistening,"saidthelattergrimlysurveyingtheboardashestretchedouthishand."Check." "Ishouldhardlythinkthathe'scometonight,"saidhisfather,withhishandpoisedovertheboard. "That'stheworstoflivingsofarout,"bawledMr.Whitewithsuddenandunlooked-forviolence; "Ofallthebeastly,slushy,outofthewayplacestolivein,thisistheworst.Path'sabog,andtheroad'satorrent.Idon'tknowwhatpeoplearethinkingabout.Isupposebecauseonlytwohousesintheroadarelet,theythinkitdoesn'tmatter." "Nevermind,dear,"saidhiswifesoothingly;"perhapsyou'llwinthenextone." Mr.Whitelookedupsharply,justintimetointerceptaknowingglancebetweenmotherandson.thewordsdiedawayonhislips,andhehidaguiltygrininhisthingreybeard. "Thereheis,"saidHerbertWhiteasthegatebangedtoloudlyandheavyfootstepscametowardthedoor. Theoldmanrosewithhospitablehasteandopeningthedoor,washeardcondolingwiththenewarrival. Thenewarrivalalsocondoledwithhimself,sothatMrs.Whitesaid,"Tut,tut!"andcoughedgentlyasherhusbandenteredtheroomfollowedbyatall,burlyman,beadyofeyeandrubicundofvisage. "Sergeant-MajorMorris,"hesaid,introducinghim. 
