"Is the village of Glasserton at a great distance from here?" I asked.
"Oh, no," replied the landlord, "about eleven miles. You can shorten it by two miles if you cut through Deering Woods."
I glanced at the clock--half-past four. "It's a melancholy walk through the woods," remarked the landlord, "but to be sure the moon will rise at ten."
"Can anyone show me the short cut?" I asked. "I wish particularly to go to Glasserton to-night."
"My daughter will put you in the way of it."
"Thank you. Ask her to get ready. I will give her half-a-crown for her trouble."
I called to Sophy, and asked her if she was ready fur a long walk.
"I am ready for anything," she said, "along o' you."
"Ten miles there, and ten miles back, Sophy," I said, for it was my intention to return to the inn that night.
"I'll walk all night if yer want me to."