The task of a Railway Construction Company, R.E., is to lay and ballast the track; ….

[W]e clomped up the steep rear concrete steps to the main (study hall) level and entered the hallway, where we then quite innocently clomped with our well-worn brogues into the study hall, where we sat to await the appearance of Witch Robinson.

have a gnaw of a bone

They were in a state of sleepy content after supper.