nd of hollow where were a
brook and many trees, and then beyond which was a rise, and then
another deep descent. When Bernard came to the brook, he begged that he
might get off and drink a little water in the hollow of his hand; and
when he had done so, he tried to make Mr. Evans mount the pony whilst
he walked. But the kind man would not hear of any such thing; he lifted
Bernard on the horse again, and they were just going to ascend the
bank, when they heard a voice behind them, crying: 'Stop, stop, Master
Bernard.'

"They looked back, and there was nurse; she had come home about an hour
before, and having heard by some chance who had been at the cottage and
been sent away, she had had a violent quarrel with her daughter-in-law,
and had come posting after her boy.

"But before Mr. Evans and Bernard knew the voice, there was a sound of
carriage-wheels coming from behind nurse; and so quick upon her was
the carriage, that the horses' heads were in a line with her, when
Bernard and Mr. Evans turned to see who called them. The road just
there was not only steep but narrow.

"'That is nurse,' said Mr. Evans; 'but we must not stop just here, or
the carriage will be upon us; a little above there is room for the pony
to stand aside, and the ground is there more level for the feet.'

"So for the next minute or more the three parties all went on, Mr.
Evans and Bernard going up slowly towards the level place; the carriage
coming rapidly down the road, being drawn by horses used to steeper
hills than that; and nurse behind at the top of her speed after the
carriage.

"Those in the carriage had known nurse as they passed, though she never
once looked up to them; and they knew also Bernard, and good Mr. Evans,
and the long-tailed pony.

"When Mr. Evans had reached the bit of level ground, which might have
been fifty feet, or more, from the bottom of the valley, he stopped,
and lifted Bernard off the pony to wait for nurse.

"The carriage, too, stopped at the brook, and there was a cry from it.
'Bernard, Bernard! It is our dear, dear Bernard; open the door, open
the door.' The door was burst open from within, and out sprang Lucilla,
flying forward to her brother. She was followed by Mr. and Mrs. Low, as
soon as the postboy could let down the steps.

"Bernard made one effort to rush to meet Lucilla, and then fell
unconscious upon the ground.

"It is impossible to give an account of such a scene; the people who
were present