Passage Four

"We’re more than halfway (中途) now; it’s only two miles farther to the tavern (客栈) ," said the driver. "I’m glad of that," answered the stranger, in a more sympathetic way. He meant to say more but the east wind blew clear down a man’s throat if he tried to speak. The girl’s voice was quite attractive; however, later he spoke again. "You don’t feel the cold so much at twenty below zero in the Western country. There isn’t such damp chill (潮冷)", he said, and then it seemed as if he had blamed the uncomplaining young driver. She had not even said that it was a bad day, and he began to be conscious of a warm hopefulness of spirit, and sense of pleasant adventure under all the woolen scarves. "You’ll have a cold drive going back," he said anxiously, and put up his hand for the twentieth time to see if his coat collar was as close to the back of his neck as possible. "I shall not have to go back!" cried the girl, with eager pleasantness. "I’m on my way home now. I drove over early just to meet you at the train. We had word that someone was coming to the tavern."

The driver（）