The early morning and late evening were given to country walks, from which he always returned with brain excited by the forecast of great achievements.
When the time of his departure approached, he decided to pay a farewell visit to Mr.Moxey.He chose an hour when the family would probably be taking their ease in the garden.

Three of the ladies were, in fact, amusing themselves with croquet, while their father, pipe in mouth, bent over a bed of calceolarias.
'What's this that I hear ?' exclaimed Mr.Moxey, as he shook hands.

'You are not going back to Whitelaw ?' The story had of course spread among all Twybridge people who knew anything of the Peaks, and it was generally felt that some mystery was involved.

Godwin had reasonably feared that his obligations to Sir Job Whitelaw must become known; impossible for such a matter to be kept secret; all who took any interest in the young man had long been privately acquainted with the facts of his position.

Now that discussion was rife, it would have been prudent in the Misses Lumb to divulge as much of the truth at they knew, but (in accordance with the law of natural perversity) they maintained a provoking silence.