It was possible, with strategy, to get away undiscovered for an hour.
* * * * * At Carstone Harold got though what he had to do that same afternoon and arranged to start early in the morning for Normanstand.

After an early breakfast he set out on his thirty-mile journey at eight o'clock.
Littlejohn, his horse, was in excellent form, notwithstanding his long journey of the day before, and with his nose pointed for home, put his best foot foremost.

Harold felt in great spirits.

The long ride the day before had braced him physically, though there were on his journey times of great sadness when the thought of his father came back to him and the sense of loss was renewed with each thought of his old home.

But youth is naturally buoyant.