s, forsaken, and the
Trewinion curse is come. I go now, never to return, while my love is
given to another, and my power is taken by my younger brother. Yet
seemingly I have done nothing to merit this."

For a time I was mad. I shook my fist and called down curses upon
Wilfred and my mother. I prayed that they should never have rest or
joy, and that the ghost of my father should haunt them. And yet I
could give no real reason for this, only that my heart was black.

I felt I must go on. I must get farther away from the place where my
life had been spent; so I gave one look more, one long hungering look
that was full of agony, and as at last I turned my eyes away, my heart
strings seemed to snap.

Then I set my teeth together, clasped my stick firmly, and, with
lowering brow and a black heart, trudged wearily northward.

CHAPTER XIII

A WANDERER

I went on heedlessly for a mile or so. I was stunned, and felt strange
and giddy; but by and by I felt I must come to such decision in regard
to my course. So I struck into the main road, and continued my journey
northward. By this time I felt the warmth and brightness of the day.
The sun was now clear of the horizon, and revealed the glittering
dewdrops that hung on grass and flower. The majestic hills rose on
either side of me, the waving cornfields presented a rich and beautiful
appearance.

The glories of nature did not soften me, however. My heart was still
hard with hatred and disappointment, and I was too busy with my sad
thoughts to decide what to do, or to what town to steer.

Presently a man met me, the first I had seen since I started. He was a
farm labourer, taking his oxen to the fields to plough, and on looking
at my watch I found that I had been walking for about six hours, and
that I must be at least twenty miles from home. The man touched his
hat, although I was sure he did not know me. Evidently my dress was
not that of a workman. If I was to get a place as a workman, I must
dress like one.

"Where does this road lead to?" I asked of the man.

"Dun knaw, zur, I'm sure, but they do zay as 'ow it do go to
Waadbrudge."

"Wadebridge, eh? Do you know how far it is away?"

"No, zur, I doan't, for I never bin more'n vive mile away from
Treloggas, which is my home, zur, but my maaster es a bit of a
traveller, zur. He've bin to Bodmun, and he do zay as 'ow Waadbrudge
es fifteen mile on."

"Fifteen miles. Is it a good road?"

"