The gossiping people could not fit Daisy Banks into the story. She was walking beside her stricken father, and they saw her bent head, and heard her bitter sobs; but it was only natural that she should make her appearance at such a time, and it seemed nothing to them that she should be close to Tom Podmore, who was one of the bearers, though he, poor fellow, winced, as Daisy half-clung to his arm for protection, when the crowd pressed upon them more than once. On reaching the cottage, the vicar hurried in first, to prepare Mrs Banks, expecting a burst of lamentation; but as soon as he had uttered his first words, Mrs Banks was cold and firm as a stone. "Is he dead, sir?" she whispered; "tell me true." "No, no; and not much injured. I think it is a fit." "I wean't give way, sir," she panted; and running upstairs, she began to drag down a mattress and pillow, ready for the suffering man. "Poor Joe, poor Joe!" she murmured, and then gave a start as she heard the word "Mother!" "Ay, lass, I'd forgot thee in this new trouble." "But you will not send me away, mother?" whispered Daisy--"wait till you know all." "I send thee away, lass? Nay, nay, I shouldna do that now," said Mrs Banks, sadly. The next moment she was putting the pillow and arranging it beneath her husband's head, as he was borne in, the men softly retiring, and giving place to the doctor, who hurried in, hot and panting. "Ah, Selwood, what's all this?" he said. "Give me a light quickly." He was down on his knees directly, examining his patient, removing the bandage, and looking at the cut, the patient's eyes, and carefully loosening all tight clothing. "Poor fellow!--ah--yes--nasty cut--do him good. Hum! What fools people are; they told me he was killed." "Will he live, Mr Purley?" whispered Daisy, hoarsely. "Ah, Daisy, you come back?" said the doctor. "Live? yes, of course he will. Touch of apoplexy; but we'll bring him round." "Oh, mother, mother!" moaned Daisy; "I thought I'd killed him;" and she threw herself, sobbing, into her mother's arms. "Come, come, that won't do," exclaimed the doctor. "You two must help me. Selwood, you'll do me a good turn by going, and taking all the people with you. We want fresh air." The vicar nodded, and a few words from him, coupled with the information that Banks was not seriously hurt and would soon recover, sufficed to send the little crowd away. They followed him, though at a distance, Tom Podmore and Harry acting as his rearguard, as he made as if to go straight to the House. He had to pass the Bull, though; and, seeing a group of people there, he made his way through them to where Robinson, the landlord, was standing discussing the events of the evening. "Robinson," said the vicar, aloud, and his words were listened to eagerly, "I'm afraid this atrocious outrage was hatched here in your house." "'Strue as I stand here, sir," cried the landlord eagerly, "I knowed nowt of it."