"Take what belongs to you, and go out at that door; get away to your parish, you pauper: beg, steal, starve, get transported, do what you like; but at your peril venture again into my sight! If ever I hear of your setting foot on an inch of ground belonging to me, I'll hire a man to cane you." "It is not likely you'll have the chance; once off your premises, what temptation can I have to return to them?
I leave a prison, I leave a tyrant; I leave what is worse than the worst that can lie before me, so no fear of my coming back." "Go, or I'll make you!" exclaimed Crimsworth.
I walked deliberately to my desk, took out such of its contents as were my own property, put them in my pocket, locked the desk, and placed the key on the top.
"What are you abstracting from that desk ?" demanded the millowner.
"Leave all behind in its place, or I'll send for a policeman to search you." "Look sharp about it, then," said I, and I took down my hat, drew on my gloves, and walked leisurely out of the counting-house--walked out of it to enter it no more.
I recollect that when the mill-bell rang the dinner hour, before Mr.
Crimsworth entered, and the scene above related took place, I had had rather a sharp appetite, and had been waiting somewhat impatiently to hear the signal of feeding time.

I forgot it now, however; the images of potatoes and roast mutton were effaced from my mind by the stir and tumult which the transaction of the last half-hour had there excited.

I only thought of walking, that the action of my muscles might harmonize with the action of my nerves; and walk I did, fast and far.

How could I do otherwise?
A load was lifted off my heart; I felt light and liberated.

I had got away from Bigben Close without a breach of resolution; without injury to my self-respect.