close to the edge of the river.
Majendie saw her putting her feet in the water and drawing them out
again, first one foot, and then the other. Then she ran a little way,
very fast, like a thing hunted. She stumbled on the slippery, slanting
ground, fell, picked herself up again, and ran. Then she stood still and
tried the water again, first one foot and then the other, desperate,
terrified, determined. She was afraid of life and death.

The belt of sand sloped gently, and the river was shallow for a few feet
from the shore. She was safe unless she threw herself in.

Majendie and Steve rushed together for the boat. As Majendie pushed
against him at the gangway, Steve shook him off. There was a brief
struggle. Old Pearson left the wheel to the boatswain and crossed to the
gangway, where the two men still struggled. He put his hand on his
master's sleeve.

"Excuse me, sir, you'd best stay where you are."

He stayed.

The captain went to the wheel again, and the boatswain to the boat.
Majendie stood stock-still by the gangway. His hands were clenched in his
pockets: his face was drawn and white. The captain slewed round upon him
a small vigilant eye. "You'd best leave her to Steve, sir. He's a good
lad and he'll look after 'er. He'd give his 'ead to marry her. Only she
wuddn't look at 'im."

Majendie said nothing. And the captain continued his consolation.

"_She's_ only trying it on, sir," said he. "_I_ know 'em. She'll do nowt.
She'll do nubbut wet 'er feet. She's afeard o' cold water."

But before the boat could put off, Maggie was in again. This time her
feet struck a shelf of hard mud. She slipped, rolled sideways, and lay,
half in and half out of the water. There she stayed till the boat reached
her.

Majendie saw Steve lift her and carry her to the upper bank. He saw
Maggie struggle from his arms and beat him off. Then he saw Steve seize
her by force, and drag her back, over the fields, towards Three Elms
Farm.

CHAPTER XXXIV

Majendie landed at the pier and went straight to the office. There he
found a telegram from Anne telling him of his child's death.

He went to the house. The old nurse opened the door for him. She was
weeping bitterly. He asked for Anne, and was told that she was lying down
and could not see him. It was Nanna who told him how Peggy died, and all
the things he had to know. When she left him, he shut himself up alone in
his study for the first hour of his grief. He wanted t