He was out of the house in a twinkling, stumping along as hard as he could go until he reached the moors.  He had played a daring game, but felt quite satisfied with the result so far, as he knew that there were no cabs to be had in the village, and that, even if his aunt were mad enough to brave a two-mile tramp along the broiling road, she could not possibly reach the station in time to catch the train.  Now that the deed was done, a sensation of fatigue stole over him, and with a sigh of relief he flung himself down on the soft tussocks of purple heather, and covered his eyes with his straw hat.  For half-an-hour he lay there motionless and deep in thought.  No suspicion that he had acted wrongly disturbed him for a moment.  Of course it was a pity that poor Aunt Charlotte should have been disappointed, and certainly that locking of her up in her bedroom had been a very painful duty; but if it was necessary—­as it was—­what else could he have done?  No doubt she would forgive him when she understood his reasons; and, after all, it was really her own fault for having been so obstinate.

It was now half-past ten, and Austin had no intention of getting home before it was time for lunch.  He had thus the whole morning before him, and he spent it rambling about the moors, struggling up hills, revelling in the heat tempered by cool grass, and wondering how Daphnis would have behaved if he had had an unreasonable old aunt to take care of; for Aunt Charlotte was really a great responsibility, and dreadfully difficult to manage.  Then, coming on a deep, clear rivulet which ran between two meadows, he yielded to a sudden impulse, and, stripping himself to the skin, plunged into it, wooden leg and all.  There he floated luxuriously for a while, the sun blazing fiercely overhead, and the cool waters playing over his white body.  When he emerged, covered with sparkling drops, he remembered that he had no towel; so there was nothing to be done but to stagger about and disport himself like a naked faun among the buttercups and bulrushes, until the sun had dried him.  As soon as he was dressed, he looked at his watch, and found that it was nearly twelve.  Then he consulted a little time-table, and made a rapid calculation.  It would take him just half-an-hour to reach the station from where he was, and therefore it was high time to start.

Off he set, and arrived there, as it seemed, at a moment of great excitement.  The station-master was on the platform, in the act of posting up a telegram, around which a number of people—­travellers, porters, and errand-boys—­were crowding eagerly.  Austin joined the group, and read the message carefully and deliberately twice through.  He asked no questions, but listened to the remarks he heard around him.  Then he passed rapidly through the booking-office, and struck out on his way home.