Of all cries, she interrupted herself with about the worst: something she saw behind me had frightened her. In another moment she had darted to the pond, and Reed was holding her back from it. "Be thee a born fool?" roared Reed. "Dost think thee'st not done enough harm as it is, but thee must want to cap it by putting theeself in there? That would mend it, that would!" She released herself from him, and slipped on the grass, Reed standing between her and the pond. But he seemed to think better of it, and stepped aside. "Jump in, an' thee likes to," said he, continuing to speak in the familiar home manner. "I once see a woman ducked in the Severn for pocket-picking, at Worcester races, and she came out all the cooler and better for't." "I never thought to bring trouble on you or anybody, George," she sobbed. "It seems to have come on and on, like a great monster growing bigger and bigger as you look at him, till I couldn't get away from it." "Couldn't or wouldn't, which d'ye mean?" retorted Reed. "Why you women were ever created to bother us, hangs me. I hope you'll find you can keep the children when I and a dozen more of us are in jail. 'Twon't be my first visit there." "Look here, Reed; I've promised to set it right for her. Don't worry over it." "I'll not accept help from anybody; not even from you, Master Johnny. What she has done she must abide by." "The bargain's made, Reed; you can't break it if you would. Perhaps a great trouble may come to me some time in my life that I may be glad to be helped out of. Mrs. Reed will get the money to-morrow, only she need not tell the parish where she found it." "Oh, George, let it be so!" she implored through her tears. "If Master Johnny's good enough to do this, let him. I might save up by little and little to repay him in time. If you went to jail through me!--I'd rather die!" "Will you let it be a lesson to you--and keep out of Jellico's clutches in future?" he asked, sternly. "It's a lesson that'll last me to the end of my days," she said, with a shiver. "Please God, you let Master Johnny get me out o' this trouble, I'll not fall into another like it." "Then come along home to the children," said he, his voice softening a little. "And leave that pond and your folly behind you." I was, of course, obliged to tell the whole to Mr. Brandon and the Squire, and they both pitched into me as fiercely as tongues could pitch. But neither of them was really angry; I saw that. As to the five pounds, I only wish as much relief could be oftener given with as little money. CAROMEL'S FARM. I. You will be slow to believe what I am about to write, and say it savours of romance instead of reality. Every word of it is true. Here truth was stranger than fiction.