noon
Now , what am I to give you for the things ? I paid Slingsby five pounds ten shillings for his stock in trade , cart , and pony -- purchased sundry provisions of the landlady , also a wagoner 's frock , which had belonged to a certain son of hers , deceased , gave my little animal a feed of corn , and prepared to depart . `` God bless you , young man , '' said Slingsby , shaking me by the hand , `` you are the best friend I 've had for many a day : I have but one thing to tell you : ` Do n't cross that fellow 's path if you can help it ; and stay -- should the pony refuse to go , just touch him so , and he 'll fly like the wind . ' '' It was two or three hours past noon when I took my departure from the place of the last adventure , walking by the side of my little cart ; the pony , invigorated by the corn , to which he was probably not much accustomed , proceeded right gallantly ; so far from having to hasten him forward by the particular application which the tinker had pointed out to me , I had rather to repress his eagerness , being , though an excellent pedestrian , not unfrequently left behind . The country through which I passed was beautiful and interesting , but solitary : few habitations appeared . As it was quite a matter of indifference to me in what direction I went , the whole world being before me , I allowed the pony to decide upon the matter ; it was not long before he left the high road , being probably no friend to public places . I followed him I knew not whither , but , from subsequent observation , have reason to suppose that our course was in a north-west direction .