Billy's first morning in his new home was a dull one. It rained hard, so he had to stay indoors. After breakfast his grandfather, clad in oilskins, went out, and did not return till dinner-time. He then said that there was a prospect of the weather clearing.
"If it does I'll show you about a bit," he said to Billy. "We might get as far as the post office—Elizabeth will give us some tea. Won't you come with us, Maria?" he asked his wife.
"No, thank you," answered Mrs. Brown. "I've work to do at home if you haven't. Besides, I've no liking for traipsing about in the mud."
About three o'clock the rain began to cease, and a little later the sun shone out. Billy and his grandfather left the house by the front door. They stood for a minute under the porch, whilst William Brown pointed out a house—the only human habitation in sight—almost on the summit of the opposite hill.
"That's Mount Farm," he said, "farmer Turpin's place. You can see Exeter from there. I used to work for farmer Turpin's father when I was a lad. Ah, the wind's rising! We shall have no more rain for a bit! Come along, Billy!"
He led the way to a little green gate in the garden hedge, by which they passed into an orchard. There was a footpath through the orchard to steep ploughed fields beyond, and a footpath through the fields to a gateway which led into the high road.
Billy was panting when at length the high road was reached, so that his grandfather had to wait for him to regain his breath.
"Oh, look at my boots!" exclaimed the little boy, as they moved on again; "they're all over mud!"
William Brown laughed.
"You'll get accustomed to mud," he said; "but you must have thicker boots. I must take you to Exeter one day and get you fitted out properly for bad weather."