'You need not speak of that, Abraham, I shall never return to Red Hall. I have quitted it and I hope have seen the last of the hateful house and its still more hateful master.'
'I wonder,' mused the shepherd, 'whether I could arrange with Rebow to get my wittles from the Rose.'
'That is where I am going to.'
'Oh!' his face lightened, 'then I don't mind. Do what you think best.' His face darkened again. 'But I doubt whether the master will keep me on when you have left. I reckon he only takes me because of you; he thinks you wouldn't like it, if I was to be turned adrift. No. You had better go back to Red Hall. Make yourself as comfortable as you can. That's my doctrine.'
Presently the old man asked, 'I say, does the master know you have left?'
'No, Abraham.'
'Are you sure?'
'I never told him.'
'Did your mother know you had made up your mind to leave?'
'Yes, I told her so a week ago.'