"Not over a mile and a half."
"Then I'll walk it, if you'll show me the shortest road."
"The shortest road is that over yonder," answered the stage-driver. "It aint no good for driving, but it's plenty good enough for hoofing it."
"Thanks," said Nelson, and without waiting he started off to walk the remainder of the journey.
He had still an hour and a half before the train would be due at Lakewood, so he took his time and often stopped to look at the dense woods and the beautiful green fields.
"What a difference between this and New York streets!" he said to himself. "And how quiet it is! I don't believe I could sleep here at night, it would be so still!"
At length he came within sight of an old cottage, where a woman was hanging up a small wash on a line. Feeling thirsty, he resolved to go into the yard and ask her for a drink of water.
But no sooner had he set foot in the weedy garden than the woman came running toward him, waving him away.
"Don't want to buy anything!" she cried shrilly. "Don't want to buy! Go away!"
"I haven't anything to sell," answered Nelson, with a smile. "I was going to ask for a drink of water."