Mr. Lovel had reached this point in his meditations when the coach suddenly stopped. The door opened,and as he peered into the semicircle of wavering lamp light he observed a tall young lady in a riding coat white with snowflakes. She had dismounted from her horse, and the beast's smoking nostrils were thawing the ice on her sleeve. She wore a mask, but she did not deceive her father.
"Cecily," he cried, astounded out of his calm. "What madcap trick is this?"