"Young Charity, mum, young Ikey Gunnis. Howsomever, if it's a coming to who'll go, I'll go, you know; but I'm afeard most of our chaps is about tight--just a little sunny, you know," he added by way of explanation, "for the beer did run free to-night, and no mistake--and I hardly know who else to get, without it's a pleeceman, and they're so precious 'ficious. You see, people's abed now; and I should ha' been there myself if the young missus hadn't come and roused me out. I was asleep aside the kitchen-fire when she come, for there was a sight o' beer up the belfry to-night sewerly." "I still think that he must have gone to the vicar's," said Patty to her mother. "I knocked as loudly as I could at the church-door, and there seemed to be no one there." "Perhaps, after all, we had better wait another half-hour," said Mrs Jared. "Let me go with Mr Chawner," said Patty, eagerly. "The Purkises may have come back now, and they would not mind giving us the keys. I dare say Mr Purkis would go with us, late as it is. He would have gone with me before, I am sure, had he been at home." "I don't like disturbing people so late; but it makes me very uneasy. Do you think the little ones would be quiet while we both went?" The suggestion now offered by Beaky Jem, that the governor might be "a bit on," was, when interpreted, scouted with indignation; and it was at last determined that Patty should stay, while Mrs Jared and Beaky Jem went to Purkis's for the keys, and then searched the church, with or without the beadle's aid. "Which he won't turn out of his warm bed, bless you," said Mr Chawner; "he's too--" He did not finish his sentence, for as Mrs Jared, bonneted and shawled, stood with the others in the passage, there came a buzz of voices at the front door, and, directly after, a gentle double knock. "There's something wrong, Patty," gasped Mrs Jared, holding her hand to her side, while the one apostrophised admitted Mr Timson, the vicar, and Purkis the beadle, all very muffled and snowy. "Something struck me that you wouldn't be in bed," began Mr Timson; but he was stopped by the vicar, who brushed by him just in time to catch Mrs Jared as she was staggering to fall. "Is--is he dead?" she gasped, recovering herself by a strong effort. "Who? who?" exclaimed the vicar. "My husband," panted Mrs Jared. "God forbid!" ejaculated the vicar, piously; "no, where is he?" "He went out before six to the church, and he has not been back," cried Patty, in agitated tones. "They were going now to search for him. Here--here he is!" she cried, as Jared made his appearance, pale and scared-looking, while Patty flung her arms round his neck. "There, there, there! shut the door," cried Timson, hastily; "it's all right, it's all right! And now, what do you want here, you sir? You're one of the bell-ringers, ain't you?" "Right you are, sir," said Beaky Jem, staring with all his eyes.