Tom was very pleased with Partridge's company, and the two
walked along together until they came to Gloucester. Here, they
ate dinner in an inn, and then Tom decided to continue walking
through the night.
The clock struck five as the pair left Gloucester. As it was the
middle of winter, it was dark, but a bright moon gave them light.
Tom remembered some romantic poems about the moon,
Partridge added some comments in Latin, and they travelled on
for about five miles in this way.
Suddenly, Tom stopped and said, 'Who knows, Partridge? The
loveliest lady in all the world may be looking at that moon this
very moment.'
'Perhaps, sir,' said Partridge. 'But if you wish to have your lady
in your arms again, why don't we go back now?'
'If you wish to go back,' said Tom, 'I will thank you and give
you some money, but I am determined to go on.'
'Then I am determined to follow you,' said Partridge.
They walked on through the cold night, and when the sun
came up they found a place on a hill to sleep. Tom was the first to
wake. From a wood below the hill came a woman's violent
screams. Tom listened for a moment, then ran down the hill and
into the wood.
There he saw a shocking sight. A woman, half naked, with a
belt around her neck, and a man who was trying to hang her
from a tree.
Tom asked no questions, but took his stick and beat the man
to the ground. He continued beating him until the woman
begged him to stop.
The poor thing then fell to her knees and thanked him. As he
lifted her up she said, 'You must be a good angel.'
Indeed he was a charming figure, and if an angel has youth,
health, strength, freshness, spirit and good nature, then Tom
certainly looked like one.