Ravenshoe. By Henry Kingsley.

174 RAVENSHOE.
CHAPTER XXIX.
CHARLES'S RETREAT UPON LONDON.
PASSING out of the park, Charles set down his burden at the
door of a small farm-house at the further end of the village, and
knocked. For some time he stood waiting for an answer, and
heard no sound save the cows and horses moving about in the
warm straw-yard. The beasts were in their home. No terrible
new morrow for them. He was without in the street; his home
irrevocable miles behind him; still not a thought of flinching or
turning back. He knocked again.
The door was unbarred. An old man looked out, and recognized him with wild astonishment.
" Mr. Charles! Good lord-a-mercy! {My dear tender heart,
what be doing out at this time a-night? With his portmantle,
too, and his carpet-bag! Come in, my dear soul, come in. An,
so pale and wild! Why, you'm overlooked, Master Charles."
"_No, Master Lee, I ain't overlooked. At least not that I
know of "
The old man shook his head, and reserved his opinion.
"- But I want your gig to go into Stonnington."
" To-night? "
"Ay, to-night. The coach goes at eight in the morning; I
want to be there before that."
" Why do'ee start so soon? They'll be all abed in the Chichester Arms."
" I know. I shall get into the stable. I don't know where I
shall get. I must go. There is trouble at the Hall."
"Ay! ay! I thought as much, and you'm going away into
the world?"
"Yes."
The old man said, "Ay! ay!" again, and turned to go upstairs. Then he held his candle over his head, and looked at
Charles; and then went up-stairs muttering to himself.
Presently was aroused from sleep a young Devonshire giant,
half Hercules, half Antinoiis, who lumbered down the stairs, and
into the room, and made his obeisance to Charles with an air of
wonder in his great sleepy black eyes, and departed to get the
gig.
Of course his first point was Ranford. He got there in the
afternoon. He had in his mind at this time, he thinks (for he