In his suspicion he preferred to have his sister attend
to him, and Sarah consented to do for him, in his sickness, what
he required, not out of fraternal affection, but as a means of
slighting the young wife, and of observing the relations that
subsisted between her and Jonas.

Sarah Rocliffe was much puzzled by what had taken place. Her
brother's manner had roused her alarm. She knew that he had gone
forth with his jealousy lashed to fury. She had herself kindled the
fire. Then he had come upon Mehetabel and Iver on the Moor, she
could not doubt. How otherwise explain the knowledge of the
accident which led Iver to bring the surgeon to the assistance of
her brother?

But the manner in which the accident had occurred and the occasion
of it, all of this was dark to her. Then the arrival of Jonas alone,
and his reticence relative to his wife, till she had asked about
her; also his extraordinary statement, his manifest terror; and the
silence of Mehetabel on her reappearance, all this proved a mystery
involving the events of the night, that Sarah Rocliffe was desirous
to unravel.

She found that her every effort met with a rebuff from Jonas,
and elicited nothing from Mehetabel, who left her in the same
uncertainty as was Bideabout, whether she knew anything, or
suspected anything beyond the fact that she had fallen insensible
into the water. She had fallen grasping the gun, which had become
entangled in some bushes, and this together with the water weeds
had sustained her. When she recovered consciousness she had drawn
herself out of the marsh by means of the gun, and had seated
herself under an old pine tree, till her senses were sufficiently
clear. Thereupon she had made the best of her way homeward.

What did she think of Jonas for having left her in the water? asked
Mrs. Rocliffe.

Mehetabel answered, simply, that she had not thought about it. Wet,
cold, and faint, she had possessed no idea save how to reach home.

There was much talk in the Punch-Bowl as well as throughout the
neighborhood relative to what had taken place, and many forms were
assumed by the rumor as it circulated. Most men understood well
enough that Jonas had gone after the Peperharow deer, and was
attempting to forestall others--therefore, serve him right, was
their judgment, however he came by his accident.

Iver left Thursley on the day following and returned to Guildford.
The surgeon staying at the Ship Inn continued his visits to the