What hurt had been done to him?
How was it that he could not bear to walk?
He took off his new boots, and tried once more, but with no better success.

He could not endure the agony of standing or moving.
Yet he must move; he must get up and walk.

If he did not go home, they would think he had run away again, for fear of meeting Dolly's aunt.

At that thought he set off to crawl homewards upon his hands and knees, with suppressed groans, as his foot trailed uselessly along the ground.

Yet he knew he could not advance very far in this manner.