see him now," she
added, speaking rapidly, and making a movement as if to wring her
hands; "his white face--his dripping hair and clothes--his half-closed
eyes--it was dreadful; it will break his mother's heart--"

"Mrs. Clarkson, did you come here to tell me _that_?"

"Why, of course I did; I felt it was my duty to prepare you--"

"Good day," I answered, sharply, closing the door and hastily entering
my study.

She had given me a terrible shock. My feelings were in a tumult
difficult to describe. My philosophy, my self-command, my hard sense
and scepticism were scattered to the winds, I had fought against the
awful fear, and was still fighting when my neighbor called; but her
visit had knocked every prop from beneath me.

She had hardly disappeared when I was hurrying through the woods by the
shortest route to the mill-pond. I knew Bob had been there, and all
that I expected to find was his white, ghastly body in the cold, cruel
depths.

"Oh, my boy!" I wailed, "I am to blame for your death! I never should
have permitted you to run into such danger. I should have gone with
you and taught you to swim--I can never forgive myself for this--never,
never, never. It will break your mother's heart--mine is already
broken--"

"_Pop, just watch me_!"

Surely that was the voice of my boy! I turned my head like a flash,
and there he was, with his hands together over his head, and in the act
of diving into the mill-pond. Down he went with a splash, his head
quickly reappearing, as he flirted the hair and water out of his eyes,
and struck out for the middle of the pond.

"What are you doing, Bob?"

"You just wait and see, pop."

And what did that young rascal do but swim straight across that pond
and then turn about and swim back again, without pausing for breath?
Not only that, but, when in the very deepest portion, he dove, floated
on his back, trod water, and kicked up his heels like a frisky colt.

"How's that, pop? You didn't know I could swim, did you?" he asked, as
he came smilingly up the bank.

"I had no idea of such a thing," I replied, my whole being fluttering
with gratitude and delight; "I think I'll have to reward you for that."

And when he had donned his clothes, and we started homeward, I slipped
a twisted bank-bill into his hands. I am really ashamed to tell its
denomination, and Bob and I never hinted anything about it to his
mother.

And now as to the question, Who shall explain it