There he found an ample supper provided for him by the tender-hearted Mrs Jessop, who had a pretty shrewd guess as to the nature of the "journey" that her master's ward was about to take.

But Jeffreys was not hungry, and the announcement that the meal was there by the "master's orders" turned him against it.
"I can't eat anything, thank you," he said to Mrs Jessop, "you gave me such a good tea only a little while ago." "But you've a long journey, Master John.

Is it a long journey, sir ?" "I don't know yet," he said.

"But I want you to promise to send me on any letter or message that comes, will you ?" "Where to ?" "To the head post-office, here." "Here?
Then you're not going out of York ?" "Not at first.

I'll let you know when I go where to send on the letters." "Mr John," said the housekeeper, "the master's turned you away.