But Jeffreys claimed no pity.

He saw nothing but his own ruthless fault; and he chose to take the whole burden of it, and the burden of the accident besides, on his own shoulders.
And so it was he left Galloway House without a word, and cast himself and his bad name once more adrift on a pitiless world.
But as he walked on he was not thinking of Galloway House, or Farmer Rosher, or Freddy or Teddy.

The last words of Trimble rang in his ears, and deafened him to all beside.
"He's dead--_I_ can tell you that!" It never occurred to him to wonder whence Jonah had derived his information, or whether it was true or false.
Mr Brampton's letter five months ago had left little hope of the boy's recovery, but not till now had Jeffreys heard any one say, in so many words "He is dead." Jonah apparently knew the whole story.

How he had discovered it, it was useless to guess.

And yet for a moment Jeffreys was tempted to return and seize his accuser by the throat and demand the truth of him.