The situation was novel, and to him enjoyable.

He was greatly fatigued,--he had over-exerted himself during the past three or four days, walking much further than he had ever been accustomed to, and his limbs ached sorely--nevertheless, with the sense of rest and relief from strain, came a certain exhilaration of spirit, like the vivacious delight of a boy who has run away from school, and is defiantly ready to take all the consequences of his disobedience to the rules of discipline and order.

For years he had wanted a "new" experience of life.

No one would give him what he sought.

To him the "social" round was ever the same dreary, heartless and witless thing, as empty under the sway of one king or queen as another, and as utterly profitless to peace or happiness as it has always been.