At last he rose abruptly.
"I've got a call to make--something with reference to the book," he said.

"I'll run out now, I think, before it gets dark." He put on his hat, and strode out of the house as if his errand was of the utmost urgency.

Once upon the street, however, his pace slackened.
There was still a good deal of daylight outside, and he loitered aimlessly about, walking with bowed head and hands clasped behind him, until dusk fell.

Then he squared his shoulders, and started straight as the crow flies toward the residence of Father Forbes..