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the crippled Apprentice had met with his accident。 Mr。 Idle； with all the
will to conquer the pain in his ankle； and to hobble on； found the power
rapidly failing him； and felt that another ten minutes at most would find
him at the end of his last physical resources。 He had just made up his
mind on this point； and was about to communicate the dismal result of his
reflections to his companions； when the mist suddenly brightened； and
begun to lift straight ahead。 In another minute； the landlord； who was in
advance； proclaimed that he saw a tree。 Before long； other trees
appeared … then a cottage … then a house beyond the cottage； and a familiar
line of road rising behind it。 Last of all； Carrock itself loomed darkly
into view； far away to the right hand。 The party had not only got down
the mountain without knowing how； but had wandered away from it in the
mist； without knowing why … away； far down on the very moor by which
they had approached the base of Carrock that morning。
The happy lifting of the mist； and the still happier discovery that the
travellers had groped their way； though by a very roundabout direction； to
within a mile or so of the part of the valley in which the farm…house was
situated； restored Mr。 Idle's sinking spirits and reanimated his failing
strength。 While the landlord ran off to get the dog…cart； Thomas was
assisted by Goodchild to the cottage which had been the first building seen
when the darkness brightened； and was propped up against the garden wall；
like an artist's lay figure waiting to be forwarded； until the dog… cart
should arrive from the farm…house below。 In due time … and a very long
time it seemed to Mr。 Idle … the rattle of wheels was heard； and the
crippled Apprentice was lifted into the seat。 As the dog…cart was driven
back to the inn； the landlord related an anecdote which he had just heard at
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the farm…house； of an unhappy man who had been lost； like his two guests
and himself； on Carrock； who had passed the night there alone； who had
been found the next morning； 'scared and starved；' and who never went out
afterwards； except on his way to the grave。 Mr。 Idle heard this sad story；
and derived at least one useful impression from it。 Bad as the pain in his
ankle was； he contrived to bear it patiently； for he felt grateful that a worse
accident had not befallen him in the wilds of Carrock。
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CHAPTER II
The dog…cart； with Mr。 Thomas Idle and his ankle on the hanging seat
behind； Mr。 Francis Goodchild and the Innkeeper in front； and the rain in
spouts and splashes everywhere； made the best of its way back to the little
inn； the broken moor country looking like miles upon miles of Pre…
Adamite sop； or the ruins of some enormous jorum of antediluvian toast…
and…water。 The trees dripped； the eaves of the scattered cottages dripped；
the barren stone walls dividing the land； dripped； the yelping dogs dripped；
carts and waggons under ill…roofed penthouses； dripped； melancholy cocks
and hens perching on their shafts； or seeking shelter underneath them；
dripped； Mr。 Goodchild dripped； Thomas Idle dripped； the Inn…keeper
dripped； the mare dripped； the vast curtains of mist and cloud passed
before the shadowy forms of the hills； streamed water as they were drawn
across the landscape。 Down such steep pitches that the mare seemed to
be trotting on her head； and up such steep pitches that she seemed to have
a supplementary leg in her tail； the dog…cart jolted and tilted back to the
village。 It was too wet for the women to look out； it was too wet even for
the children to look out； all the doors and windows were closed； and the
only sign of life or motion was in the rain…punctured puddles。
Whiskey and oil to Thomas Idle's ankle； and whiskey without oil to
Francis Goodchild's stomach； produced an agreeable change in the
systems of both； soothing Mr。 Idle's pain； which was sharp before； and
sweetening Mr。 Goodchild's temper； which was sweet before。
Portmanteaus being then opened and clothes changed； Mr。 Goodchild；
through having no change of outer garments but broadcloth and velvet；
suddenly became a magnificent portent in the Innkeeper's house； a shining
frontispiece to the fashions for the month； and a frightful anomaly in the
Cumberland village。
Greatly ashamed of his splendid appearance； the conscious Goodchild
quenched it as much as possible； in the shadow of Thomas Idle's ankle；
and in a corner of the little covered carriage that started with them for
Wigton … a most desirable carriage for any country； except for its having a
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flat roof and no sides； which caused the plumps of rain accumulating on
the roof to play vigorous games of bagatelle into the interior all the way；
and to score immensely。 It was comfortable to see how the people coming
back in open carts from Wigton market made no more of the rain than if it
were sunshine； how the Wigton policeman taking a country walk of half…a…
dozen miles （apparently for pleasure）； in resplendent uniform； accepted
saturation as his normal state； how clerks and schoolmasters in black；
loitered along the road without umbrellas； getting varnished at every step；
how the Cumberland girls； coming out to look after the Cumberland cows；
shook the rain from their eyelashes and laughed it away； and how the rain
continued to fall upon all； as it only does fall in hill countries。
Wigton market was over； and its bare booths were smoking with rain
all down the street。 Mr。 Thomas Idle； melodramatically carried to the
inn's first floor； and laid upon three chairs （he should have had the sofa； if
there had been one）； Mr。 Goodchild went to the window to take an
observation of Wigton； and report what he saw to his disabled companion。
'Brother Francis； brother Francis；' cried Thomas Idle； 'What do you see
from the turret？'
'I see；' said Brother Francis； 'what I hope and believe to be one of the
most dismal places ever seen by eyes。 I see the houses with their roofs of
dull black； their stained fronts； and their dark… rimmed windows； looking
as if they were all in mourning。 As every little puff of wind comes down
the street； I see a perfect train of rain let off along the wooden stalls in the
market…place and exploded against me。 I see a very big gas lamp in the
centre which I know； by a secret instinct； will not be lighted to…night。 I
see a pump； with a trivet underneath its spout whereon to stand the vessels
that are brought to be filled with water。 I see a man come to pump； and
he pumps very hard； but no water follows； and he strolls empty away。'
'Brother Francis； brother Francis；' cried Thomas Idle； 'what more do
you see from the turret； besides the man and the pump； and the trivet and
the houses all in mourning and the rain？'
'I see；' said Brother Francis； 'one； two； three； four； five； linen… drapers'
shops in front of me。 I see a linen…draper's shop next door to the right …
and there are five more linen…drapers' shops down the corner to the left。
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Eleven homicidal linen…drapers' shops within a short stone's throw； each
with its hands at the throats of all the rest！ Over the small first…floor of
one of these linen… drapers' shops appears the wonderful inscription；
BANK。'
'Brother Francis； brother Francis；' cried Thomas Idle； 'what more do
you see from the turret； besides the eleven homicidal linen… drapers' shops；
and the wonderful inscription； 〃Bank；〃 … on the small first…floor； and the
man and the pump and the trivet and the houses all in mourning and the