For answer the young man produced from an inner pocket of his shabby garment a small flask, which he uncorked and held toward her. "It is cognac," he said; "put a drop or two between her lips while I chafe her hands--so; see, she revives," as the white lids quivered for a second, and then the pretty blue eyes opened. "Moppet, Moppet, my darling," cried her sister, "are you hurt? Did you strike anything in your fall?" "Why, Betty!" ejaculated the child, "why are you giving me nasty stuff; here are the tansy leaves," and she held up her left hand, where tightly clenched she had kept the herbs, whose gathering on the edge of the treacherous bank had been her undoing. "You are a brave little maid," said the stranger, as he put the flask to his own lips. "The shock will be all you have to guard against, and even that is passing;" for Miss Moppet had staggered upon her feet and was looking with astonished eyes at her dripping clothing. "Did I fall, Betty?" she said. "Why my gown is sopping wet,--oh! have I been at the bottom of the pond?" "You had stopped there, sweetheart, but for this good gentleman," said Betty, holding out a small, trembling hand to the stranger, a lovely smile dimpling her cheeks as she spoke. "Sir, with all my heart I thank you. My little sister had drowned but for your promptness and skill; I do not know how to express my gratitude." "I am more than rewarded for my simple service," replied the young man, raising the pretty hand to his lips with a profound bow and easy grace, "but I am afraid your sister may get a chill, as the sun is so low in the sky: and if I may venture upon a suggestion, it would be well to ride speedily to some shelter where she can obtain dry clothing. If you will permit me to offer you the cape of my riding-coat (which is near at hand) I will wrap her in it at once, and then I think she will he safe from any after-effects of her cold bath in the pond." "Oh, you are too kind," cried Betty, as the stranger disappeared in the underbrush. "Moppet, Moppet, what can we say to prove our gratitude? You had been drowned twice over but for him." "Ask him to come to the manor," said Miss Moppet, much less agitated than her sister, and being always a small person of many resources. "Father will be glad to bid him welcome, and you know"-- "Yes," interrupted Betty, as their new friend appeared at her elbow with a cape of dark blue cloth over his arm. "Here is my cape," he said, "and though not very large it will cover her sufficiently. Let me untie your horses and help you to mount." "Oh, we can mount alone," said Miss Moppet, who had by this time recovered her spirits, "but you must come home with us; you are dripping wet yourself; and if you like, you may ride my pony. He has carried double before now, and I am but a light weight, as my father says."