"He went by the fish-ponds with Evelyn," cried Edith suddenly: "I saw him." Hardwicke darted off. "Curse him! Playing the fool when he's wanted more than he ever will be again.--Mrs. Latimer!" Edith rushed away to find her mother. Some one brought water, and held it while Fothergill, with his disengaged hand, sprinkled the white face on his knee. Walter Latimer hurried round the corner. He held a pink rosebud, on which his fingers tightened unconsciously as he ran. Coming to the staring group, he stopped aghast. "Good God!" he panted, "what has happened?" Fothergill dashed more water on the shut eyes and bright hair. Latimer looked from him to the others standing round: "What has happened?" A hoarse voice spoke from the background: "She fell." Archie Carroll had risen from his knees, and, lifting one hand above his head, he pointed to the wall. Suddenly, he met Fothergill's eyes, and with a half-smothered cry he flung himself all along upon the grass and hid his face. "Fothergill! is she much hurt?" cried Latimer. "Is it serious?" The other did not look up. "I cannot tell," he said, "but I believe she is killed." Latimer uttered a cry: "No! no! For God's sake don't say that! It can't be!" Fothergill made no answer. "It isn't possible!" said Walter. But his glance measured the height of the wall and rested on the stones scattered thickly below. The words died on his lips. "Is Anderson never coming?" said some one else. Another messenger hurried off. Latimer stood as if rooted to the ground, gazing after him. All at once he noticed the rose which he still held, and jerked it away with a movement as of horror. The last runner returned: "Anderson and Hardwicke will be here directly: I saw them coming up the path from the fish-ponds. Here is Mrs. Latimer." [Illustration: "FOTHERGILL! IS SHE MUCH HURT?"--Page 682.] Edith ran through the archway first, eager and breathless. "Here is mamma," she said, going straight to Raymond Fothergill with her tidings, and speaking softly as if Sissy were asleep. A little nod was his only answer, and the girl stood gazing with frightened eyes at the drooping head which he supported. Mrs. Latimer, Hardwicke and Anderson all arrived together, and the group divided to make way for them. The first thing to be done was to carry Sissy to the farmhouse, and while they were arranging this Edith felt two hands pressed lightly on her shoulders. She turned and confronted Harry Hardwicke. "Hush!" he said: "do not disturb them now, but when they have taken her to the house, if you hear anything said, tell them that I have gone for Dr. Grey, and as soon as I have sent him here I shall go on for Mrs. Middleton. You understand?" he added, for the child was looking at him with her scared eyes, and had not spoken. "Yes," she said, "I will tell them. Oh, Harry! will she die?"