Now that the deed was done, a sensation of fatigue stole over him, and with a sigh of relief he flung himself down on the soft tussocks of purple heather, and covered his eyes with his straw hat.

For half-an-hour he lay there motionless and deep in thought.

No suspicion that he had acted wrongly disturbed him for a moment.

Of course it was a pity that poor Aunt Charlotte should have been disappointed, and certainly that locking of her up in her bedroom had been a very painful duty; but if it was necessary--as it was--what else could he have done?
No doubt she would forgive him when she understood his reasons; and, after all, it was really her own fault for having been so obstinate.
It was now half-past ten, and Austin had no intention of getting home before it was time for lunch.

He had thus the whole morning before him, and he spent it rambling about the moors, struggling up hills, revelling in the heat tempered by cool grass, and wondering how Daphnis would have behaved if he had had an unreasonable old aunt to take care of; for Aunt Charlotte was really a great responsibility, and dreadfully difficult to manage.