"So you're no hand at guessing, partner. Own up to that," was Mr. Hannaford's response. Then he cried, "Hi, what's up with 'ee? What be doing?" for Percival had stretched a sudden hand to the reins and the horse swerved sharply. "Whoa!" bellowed Mr. Hannaford, and dragged up with a wheel on the brink of a ditch. "Might ha' had us out!" he turned on Percival. "Bless my eighteen stun proper if 'ee mightn't!" It was a wild face that fronted him, blotchy in red and white as it were freshly bruised. "Well, put me down!" Percival cried at him fiercely. "Put me down when I ask you!" and as he slowly drew the rug from his knees and put out a foot to the step he turned back on Mr. Hannaford and flamed "I suppose I can walk if I want to?" and dropped heavily to the road. His feet landed on the edge of the ditch. He blundered forward and came with hands and knees against the hedge. The stumble shook his hat from his head and he turned and went hatless past the tail of the cart and a few paces down the road. Mr. Hannaford released with a rushing explosion the immense breath that he had been sustaining during the whole of these proceedings. He turned amazed eyes on Ima: "What's happened to him?" She sprang to the road. "Percival!" and followed him. He turned at the sound of her feet; and at the look on his face she stopped. "Well?" he demanded. "Well? What is it now?" "You have left your hat," she said. "I will bring it to you." Some wit that came to her gave her these ordinary words in place of questioning him, and he came back to her quickly. "I don't want my hat," he told her. He looked up towards Mr. Hannaford. "I'm sorry I pulled you up like that. I want to walk, that's all. I'm going along the Ridge--to stretch my legs." "There's something wrong with 'ee," said Mr. Hannaford. "What is it, boy?" "Nothing. I want a walk, that's all." Mr. Hannaford pointed across the Ridge. "There's a storm coming up. Best ride." "I'll be home before that." He turned and went slowly towards a gate that gave to the fields approaching the downside. Ima hesitated and then went swiftly after him as he fumbled with the latch. "Percival, I will walk with you." He turned upon her a face from which the gentler mood was gone. "Oh, for God's sake let me alone," he cried, and passed through the gate and left her. II He found that he kept stumbling as he pressed along.