“How about putting your wheel in the back seat and letting me give you a lift? You look pretty tired.”
Billy lifted bleared eyes and stopped pedalling, almost falling off his wheel, but recovering himself with a wrench of pain and sliding off.
“Awwright!” said Billy, “Thanks!”
“You look all in, son,” said the man kindly.
“Yep,” said Billy laconically, “'yam! Been up all night. Care f'I sleep?”
“Help yourself,” said the man, giving a lift with the wheel, and putting it in behind.
Billy curled down in the back seat without further ceremony.
“Where are you going son?”
Billy named the country seat of the Shaftons, having no idea how far away it was. The man gave a whistle.
“What! On that wheel? Well, go to sleep son. I'm going there myself, so don't worry. I'll wake you up when you get there.”