resolved to think of something else, and then to return to his
difficulty, and see it with a new eye.

Leaving his thoughts free to wander where they liked, his thoughts
naturally busied themselves with the next subject that was uppermost
in his mind, the subject of the Foot-Race. In a week's time his
arrangements ought to be made. Now, as to the training, first.

He decided on employing two trainers this time. One to travel to
Scotland, and begin with him at his brother's house. The other to take
him up, with a fresh eye to him, on his return to London. He turned over
in his mind the performances of the formidable rival against whom he was
to be matched. That other man was the swiftest runner of the two.
The betting in Geoffrey's favor was betting which calculated on the
unparalleled length of the race, and on Geoffrey's prodigious powers of
endurance. How long he should "wait on" the man? Whereabouts it would
be safe to "pick the man up?" How near the end to calculate the man's
exhaustion to a nicety, and "put on the spurt," and pass him? These were
nice points to decide. The deliberations of a pedestrian-privy-council
would be required to help him under this heavy responsibility. What men
could he trust? He could trust A. and B.--both of them authorities:
both of them stanch. Query about C.? As an authority, unexceptionable;
as a man, doubtful. The problem relating to C. brought him to a
standstill--and declined to be solved, even then. Never mind! he could
always take the advice of A. and B. In the mean time devote C. to the
infernal regions; and, thus dismissing him, try and think of something
else. What else? Mrs. Glenarm? Oh, bother the women! one of them is the
same as another. They all waddle when they run; and they all fill their
stomachs before dinner with sloppy tea. That's the only difference
between women and men--the rest is nothing but a weak imitation of Us.