But he had kept his word, rather as a promise than as a formal vow, with much worldly advantage to himself, though not much happiness; till increase of years had bred reactionary feelings which led him to receive the news of to-night with emotions akin to relief.
While leaning against the Devil's Door and thinking on these things, he became conscious that he was not the only inhabitant of the down.

A figure in white was moving across his front with long, noiseless strides.
Mills stood motionless, and when the form drew quite near he perceived it to be that of the Duke himself in his nightshirt--apparently walking in his sleep.

Not to alarm the old man, Mills clung close to the shadow of the stone.

The Duke went straight on into the hollow.

There he knelt down, and began scratching the earth with his hands like a badger.