r his assistance. The dog's hurt was, he agreed
with Rachel, a broken leg, and his offer of carrying it home could not
be refused, especially as he touched it with remarkable tenderness and
dexterity, adding that with a splint or two, he thought he had surgery
enough to set the limb.

They were much nearer the Homestead than to Myrtle-wood, and as it had
been already agreed that Bessie should breakfast there, the three bent
their steps up the hill as fast as might be, in consideration of Mrs.
Curtis's anxieties. Bessie in a state of great exultation and amusement
at the romantic adventure, Rachel somewhat put out at the untoward
mishap that obliged her to be beholden to one of the casual visitors,
against whom her mother had such a prejudice.

Still, the gentleman himself was far from objectionable, in appearance
or manner; his air was that of an educated man, his dress that of a
clergyman at large, his face keen. Rachel remembered to have met him
once or twice in the town within the last few days, and wondered if he
could be a person who had called in at the lace school and asked so many
questions that Mrs. Kelland had decided that he could be after no good;
he must be one of the Parliament folks that they sent down to take the
bread out of children's mouths by not letting them work as many hours
as was good for them. Not quite believing in a Government commission
on lace-making grievances, Rachel was still prepared to greet a kindred
spirit of philanthropy, and as she reflected more, thought that perhaps
it was well that an introduction had been procured on any terms.

So she thawed a little, and did not leave all the civility to Miss
Keith, but graciously responded to the stranger's admiration of the
views, the exquisite framings of the summer sea and sky made by tree,
rock, and rising ground, and the walks so well laid out on the little
headland, now on smooth turf, now bordering slopes wild with fern
and mountain ash, now amid luxuriant exotic shrubs that attested the
mildness of Avonmouth winters.

When they came near the front of the house, Rachel took man and dog in
through the open window of her own sitting-room, and hastened to provide
him with bandages and splints, leaving Bessie to reassure Mrs. Curtis
that no human limbs were broken, and that no one was even wet to the
skin; nay, Bessie had even the tact to spare Mrs. Curtis the romantic
colouring that delighted herself. Grace had followed Rachel to assi