s important, as their human charge to coroners and jurymen.

The boat got aground amongst the flags, at a point where the tow-rope
had to be carried over a foot-bridge at some little distance inland.
One of the men, in attempting to leap the ditch, had fallen in, and
emerged dripping with mud. Ben jumped ashore to take his turn at the
rope, and Enderby pushed the boat off again with an oar, with some
little effort. Mr Walcot had squeezed Sophia's parasol so hard, during
the crisis, as to break its ivory ring. The accident, mortifying as it
was to him, did not prevent his exclaiming in a fervour of gratitude,
when the vibration of the boat was over, and they were once more
afloat--

"What an exceedingly clever man Mr Enderby is!"

"Extremely clever. I really think he can do everything."

"Ah! he would not have managed to break the ring of your parasol, as I
have been so awkward as to do. But I will see about getting it mended
to-morrow. If I were as clever as Mr Enderby now, I might be able to
mend it myself."

"You will not be able to get another ring in Deerbrook. But never mind.
I beg you will not feel uncomfortable about it. I can fasten it with a
loop of green ribbon and a button till the next time I go to Blickley.
Pray do not feel uncomfortable."

"How can I help it? You say there is no ring in Deerbrook. Not any
sort of ring? My dear Miss Grey, if I cannot repair this sort of
ring--"

Sophia was a good deal flurried. She begged he would think no more of
the parasol; it was no manner of consequence.

"Do not be too good to me," whispered he. "I trust. I know my duty
better than to take you at your word. From my earliest years, my
parents have instilled into me the duty of making reparation for the
injuries we cause to others."

Sophia gave him an affecting look of approbation, and asked with much
interest where his parents lived, and how many brothers and sisters he
had; and assured him, at last, that she saw he belonged to a charming
family.

"It does not become me to speak proudly of such near relations," said
he; "and one who has so lately left the parental roof is, perhaps,
scarcely to be trusted to be impartial; but I will say for my family
that, though not perhaps so clever as Mrs Rowland and Mr Enderby--"

"Oh, for Heaven's sake, do not name them together!"

Mr Walcot saw that he had broken the charm: he hastened to repair the
mischief which one unhappy name had caused.

"It