the prostrate body, he turned away and hurried through the
trees towards the avenue. The bright lamps of the dog-cart were almost
close before him. He shouted to Reynolds.

"Whoa, January!" ejaculated that ancient functionary as he pulled up
Strawberry close to John Short. Why the natives of Essex and especially
of Billingsfield habitually address their beasts of burden as "January"
is a matter best left to the discrimination of philologers; obedient to
the familiar words however, Strawberry stood still in the middle of the
road. John could see that Mrs. Goddard was seated by the side of Reynolds
but that Nellie was not in the cart.

"Oh, Mrs. Goddard, is that you?" said John. "Mr. Juxon will be here in a
moment. Don't be frightened--he is not hurt in the least; awfully bad
luck for the tramp, though!"

"The tramp?" repeated Mrs. Goddard with a faint cry of horror.

"Yes," said John, whose spirits rose wonderfully in the light of the
dog-cart lamps. "There was a poor tramp hanging about the park--poaching,
very likely--and Mr. Juxon's dog got after him, somehow, I suppose. I do
not know how it happened, but when I came up--oh! here is Mr. Juxon
himself--he will tell you all about it."

The squire came up in breathless haste, having locked Stamboul into the
house.

"Good Heavens! Mrs. Goddard!" he ejaculated in a tone of profound
surprise. But Mrs. Goddard gave no answer. The squire sprang upon the
step and looked closely at her. She lay back against old Reynolds's
shoulder, very pale, with her eyes shut. It was evident that she had
fainted. The old man seemed not to comprehend what had happened; he
had never experienced the sensation of having a lady leaning upon his
shoulder, and he looked down at her with a half idiotic smile on his
deeply furrowed face.

"She's took wuss, sir," he remarked. "She was all for comin' up the park
as soon as Master John was gone. She warn't feelin' herself o' no account
t' evenin'."

"Look here, Mr. Short," said the squire decisively. "I must ask you to
take Mrs. Goddard home again and call her women to look after her. I
fancy she will come to herself before long. Do you mind?"

"Not in the least," said John cheerfully, mounting at the back of the
dog-cart.

"And--Reynolds--bring Mr. Short back to the Hall immediately, please, and
you shall have some beer."

"All right, sir."

John supported the fainting lady with one arm, turning round upon his
seat at the back. Old Stra