The Smith took his staff, and we both of us went together after Thomas. It is a stiff uphill road to Hart Hill, and Thomas was forespent so that we had to help him over the rough and steep places, going always side by side in perfect silence. So we came to the little forest path, and it was now half grown over and obstructed by the branches of the trees, and so on to the stone wall that ran round the steading, and there we stopped, for thence could all be seen of what was Thomas’s house. In the midst of a wide open space, overgrown with rough hill grass and ragwort and young gorse and blackberry, were a few charred rafters and some baked and crumbling plaster. The September morning was mellowing into perfect brightness, the dew had fallen heavily the night before and glistened mistily on every blade and leaf. A great stillness hung over the place; only a single crow flapped its black wings in the blue sky, cawing its way to the woods. In three years the busy homestead had become a wilderness and the spear-grass waved where Thomas had dandled his babies. Thomas sighed heavily as he gazed, then crossing himself he turned away. ‘This is a hard home-coming for a man like me,’ he said, ‘God knows I had not looked for this at His hands.’ ‘We are all in His hands, Thomas,’ I said, ‘and your wife and children no less than we.’ So we came back in silence to town, and as we came to the Market we had to catch Thomas between us or he would have fallen with his weakness. When he had revived somewhat he said, ‘Now I must go to the Abbey at Roodborough, for so I swore to myself when we were up yonder at Hart Hill.’ ‘Roodborough,’ I cried. ‘Why, Thomas, it is seven miles, and thou couldst hardly walk the length of the Market Place.’ But he answered, ‘I must go,’ and actually tried to set forward. Then seeing he would not be stayed, and wondering why he should wish to go thither, I bethought myself of a certain business of my Lord’s, which I had with the Cellarer of the Abbey, and I offered right willingly to bring him there. I took him and led him to my house, where he ate a little fresh fish and bread, and then we took cart and came two hours after noon to Roodborough.