en you can fasten the gate."

"Think she'll tumble down, sir?" said a voice at the door; and they
turned to find David back panting and breathless. "Took her home, sir.
She kep' on chuntering all the way, but parson frightened her about the
dole, and she never said a cross word. But think the mill 'll come
down?"

"Oh no, David," said Uncle Richard quietly; "there is no fear. Is that
boy much hurt?"

"Him, sir? Tchah! There's nothing the matter with him. The shock
knocked him off the wall, and he lay howling, expecting some one to give
him a shilling to put him right. He'd forgotten all about it before he
got home, and began to quarrel with his granny."

"Help to lock up," said Uncle Richard; and, leaving Tom free to speak to
the people, and ask them to disperse, he laid his hand on David's arm.

Ten minutes later the people were all out of the yard, and hanging about
in the lane discussing the thunderbolt, as they called it, that had
fallen, some declaring that the worst always came out of a clear sky,
while others declared that they'd "never seed thunder and lightning
without clouds."

On the whole, they were rather disappointed that more mischief had not
been done. The burning of the mill, for instance, or its crumbling
down, would have made the affair more exciting, whereas there were some
broken windows to look at, and that was all.

Meanwhile the scientific people had adjourned to the cottage, where warm
water and clothes-brushes did a good deal to restore them to their
former state, while a cup of tea hurriedly prepared by Mrs Fidler did
something toward soothing their shattered nerves.

"But really, sir, I think you ought to let me send over to Buildston for
Doctor Ranson."

"Not for me, Mrs Fidler," said Uncle Richard. "I've been a good deal
shaken, and my ears are full of a sharp singing sound, but I'm rapidly
coming round. Send for him to see Mr Maxted."

"Oh dear me, no. I'm very much better," said the Vicar. "I was very
much frightened, and I have a lump on the back of my head, but that is
all. You had better send for him, I think, to see Master Tom here."

"I don't want any doctor," exclaimed Tom. "Mrs Fidler could put me
right."

"Yes, my dear," cried the housekeeper; "but you never will let me."

"Well, who's going to take prune tea or brimstone and treacle because he
has been knocked down?"

"There, Mrs Fidler, you hear," said Uncle Richard; "we have had a
narrow escape,