"They have rather misled me, for they seem to surround the whole common, and there is no path across it that I can see; however, if you will put me in the right road, I will not trouble you further."
"It is very late," replied the churlish landlord, equivocally.
"The better reason why I should be at ———. Come, my good friend, put on your hat, and I will give you half a guinea for your trouble."
The man advanced, then halted; again surveyed his guest, and said, "Are you quite alone, sir?"
"Quite."
"Probably you are known at ———?"
"Not I. But what matters that to you? I am a stranger in these parts."
"It is full four miles."
"So far, and I am fearfully tired already!" exclaimed the young man with impatience. As he spoke he drew out his watch. "Past eleven too!"
The watch caught the eye of the cottager; that evil eye sparkled. He passed his hand over his brow. "I am thinking, sir," he said in a more civil tone than he had yet assumed, "that as you are so tired and the hour is so late, you might almost as well—"