found that it was a man. I plunged into the stream and
contrived to drag him to the bank, but he was evidently quite dead.
What I had taken for struggling was only the force of the stream swaying
him about against the supports of the bridge. His dress was that of a
coachman or driver of some public conveyance. I got help from a
neighbouring cottage, and we carried him in, and I sent someone off for
the nearest doctor, and then I thought to take a short cut into the
road, and I've been wandering about for a long time now, and am very
thankful to find any shelter."

During this account Mrs Franklin and her daughter turned deadly pale,
and then the former exclaimed:

"I fear it was our poor driver--I heard a splash while our omnibus was
struggling in the water. Oh! I fear, I fear it must have been the
unfortunate man; and oh! Poor man, I'm afraid he wasn't in a fit state
to die."

"If he was like your young friend at the forge, I fear not indeed," said
Mr Tankardew. "That drink that accursed drink," he added, rising and
approaching the stranger, who was now divesting himself of his wet outer
garments. He was tall, as we have said, and his figure was slight and
graceful; he wore a thick black beard and moustache, and had something
of a military air; his eyes were piercing and restless, and seemed to
take in at a glance and comprehend whatever they rested on.

But what was there in him that seemed familiar to Mrs Franklin and
Mary? Had they seen him elsewhere? They felt sure that they had not,
and yet his voice and face both reminded them of someone they had seen
and heard before. The same thing seemed to strike Mr Tankardew, but,
as he turned towards the young stranger, the latter started back and
uttered a confused exclamation of astonishment. The old man also was
now strangely moved, he muttered aloud:

"It must be--no--it cannot be: yes, it surely must be;" then he seemed
to restrain himself by a sudden effort, he paused for a moment, and then
with two rapid strides he reached the young man, placed his left hand
upon the other's lips, and seizing him by the right hand hurried him out
of the kitchen before another word could be spoken.

Poor Mrs Franklin and her daughter looked on in astonishment, hardly
knowing what to say or think of this extraordinary proceeding, but their
host reassured them at once.

"Never fear, ma'am, the old mayster couldn't hurt a fly; it'll be all
right, take my word for it;