fend himself against an
enemy always attacking him with a stick.

He did not speak, only shrank and cowered and then attacked in turn
fiercely, producing once more the whole scene so vividly that the doctor
and Aunt Hannah could picture everything save the enemy who had
committed the assault.

The next evening, while the rector sat thinking over the bad news he had
heard from the Little Manor half-an-hour before, Joseph tapped at the
door to announce a visitor, and the rector said that he might be shown
in.

Macey was at the Little Manor. Gilmore and Distin were in the grounds
when the visitor was seen entering the gate, and the latter looked
wildly round, as if seeking for the best way to escape; but mastering
himself directly, he stood listening to Gilmore, who exclaimed:

"Hallo! here's Mr PC. Let's go and ask him if he has any news about
the brute who nearly killed poor old Vane."

"No," said Distin, hoarsely; "let's wait till he comes out."

"All right," replied Gilmore; and he stood in the gloom beneath the
great walnut tree watching the constable go up to the porch, ring, and,
after due waiting, enter, his big head, being seen soon after, plainly
shown against the study shaded lamp.

"Well, constable," said the rector; "you have news for me?"

"Yes, sir."

"About the assailant of my poor pupil?"

"Yes, sir, and I should have been here before, only it was Magistrates'
day, and I had to go over to the town to attend a case."

"Well, what have you found out? Do you know who the person was that
assailed Mr Vane Lee?"

"Yes, sir: I'm pretty sure."

"Not some one in this town?"

"Yes, sir."

"Surely not. I cannot think that any one would be so cruel."

"Sorry to say it is so, sir, as far as I know; and I'm pretty sure now."

"But who? We have so few black sheep here, I am thankful to say. Not
Tompkins?"

"No, sir."

"Jevell?"

"No, sir, some one much nigher home than that, sir, I'm sorry to say."

"Well, speak, and put me out of my suspense."

"Some one here, sir," said the constable, after drawing a long breath.

"What!"

"Fact, sir. Some one as lives here at the rectory."

"In the name of common sense, man," cried the rector, angrily, "whom do
you mean--me?"

"No, sir, that would be too bad," said the constable.

"Whom, then?"

"Your pupil, sir, Mr Distin."

Had a good solid Japanese earthquake suddenly shaken down all the walls
of the rectory and left the Reverend Morto