Robert bade them good-bye with a smile, closed the door, and set off down the lane as fast as the darkness made it prudent. He did not think it wise to go through the village, so he made a détour by some fields, and came into the road again on the other side of Thorpe. He had not gone many yards, when he became aware that a number of lights were approaching, accompanied by a noise of voices. Robert turned straight round. If he could get back to the stile which led into the fields, he would be safer: and if not, still it would be better to be overtaken than to meet a possible enemy face to face. He would be less likely to be noticed in the former case than in the latter—at least so he thought.
There must be a good number of people coming behind him, judging from the voices. At length they came up with him.
“Pray you, young man, how far be we from Thorpe?”
“You are very nigh, straight on,” was Robert’s answer.
“Do you belong there?”
“No, I’m nigh a stranger to these parts: I’m from the eastern side of the county. I can’t tell you much about folks, if that be your meaning.”
“And what do you here, if you be a stranger?”
“I’ve a job o’ work at Saint Osyth, at this present.”
“What manner of work?”
“I’m a fuller by trade.”