But the pork had been hung at the farthest extremity of the hanger, apparently to prevent the roasting from proceeding too rapidly during the owner's absence.

The old staring simpleton had hot meat for his supper, then?
thought Dunstan.

People had always said he lived on mouldy bread, on purpose to check his appetite.

But where could he be at this time, and on such an evening, leaving his supper in this stage of preparation, and his door unfastened?
Dunstan's own recent difficulty in making his way suggested to him that the weaver had perhaps gone outside his cottage to fetch in fuel, or for some such brief purpose, and had slipped into the Stone-pit.

That was an interesting idea to Dunstan, carrying consequences of entire novelty.