midday
A roadman 's eyes would no doubt be a little inflamed , so I contrived to get some dust in both of mine , and by dint of vigorous rubbing produced a bleary effect . The sandwiches Sir Harry had given me had gone off with my coat , but the roadman 's lunch , tied up in a red handkerchief , was at my disposal . I ate with great relish several of the thick slabs of scone and cheese and drank a little of the cold tea . In the handkerchief was a local paper tied with string and addressed to Mr Turnbull -- obviously meant to solace his midday leisure . I did up the bundle again , and put the paper conspicuously beside it . My boots did not satisfy me , but by dint of kicking among the stones I reduced them to the granite-like surface which marks a roadman 's footgear . Then I bit and scraped my finger-nails till the edges were all cracked and uneven .