t, for then
he felt that he could have gone more comfortably to the study, instead
of taking his seat imagining that the rector suspected him, or that he
had been told that his pupil had been seen going into the church-tower
with Chakes, and afterwards alone.

"He can't help knowing," Vane said to himself, as he neared the grounds;
"and I shall have to confess after all."

But he did not, for on reaching the rectory Joseph met him with the
announcement that master was so unwell that he had decided not to get
up.

"Then there will be no study this morning, Joseph?"

"No, sir, not a bit, and the young gents have gone off--rabbiting, I
think."

"Which way?"

"Sowner's woods, sir. I think if you was to look sharp you'd ketch 'em
up."

Vane felt quite disposed to "look sharp," and overtake the others, one
reason being that he hoped to find Distin more disposed to become
friendly again, for he argued it was so stupid for them, working
together at the same table, to be separated and to carry on a kind of
feud.

It was about a couple of miles to Sowner's wood, and with the intention
of taking all the short cuts, and getting there in less than half an
hour, Vane hurried on, feeling the soft sweet breeze upon his cheeks and
revelling in the joy of being young, well and hearty. The drowsy
sensations he had felt at breakfast were rapidly passing off, and his
spirits rose as he now hoped that there would be no trouble about his
escapade with the clock, as he had done the right thing in explaining
matters to the doctor.

It was a glorious morning, with the country round looking lovely in the
warm mellow light of early autumn, and, gaze which way he would, some
scene of beauty met his eye.

His course was along the main road for some distance, after which he
would have to turn down one of the many narrow lanes of that part of the
country--lanes which only led from one farm to another, and for the most
part nearly impassable in winter from the scarcity of hard material for
repairing the deep furrows made by the waggon-wheels.

But these lanes were none the less beautiful with their narrow borders
of grass in the place of paths, each cut across at intervals, to act as
a drain to the road, though it was seldom that they did their duty and
freed the place from the pools left by the rain.

The old Romans, when they made roads, generally drew them straight. The
Lincolnshire farmers made them by zigzagging along the edge