He had not as yet eaten since he had left his home in the morning, and he now pulled a crust out of his pocket and leaned against a gate as he crunched it.

There were still ten miles before him, and he knew that such an addition to the work he had already done would task him very severely.

Farmer Mangle had told him that he would not leave Framley Mill till five, and he had got time to reach Framley Mill by that time.

But he had said that he would not return to Framley Mill, and he remembered his suspicion that his wife and farmer Mangle between them had cozened him.

No; he would persevere and walk,--walk, though he should drop upon the road.