“Yes, sir; she and all of us owe her life to him. Feyther wanted to come down to you, but I said better not yet awhile, you would understand.” “How did it happen?” Ned said, feeling that here at least his wound would be touched with no rough hand. “She went down to the town with Jarge, who was going to fetch some things I wanted. He left her looking in at a shop window while he went inside. They were some time serving him as there were other people in the shop. Jenny got tired, as she says, of waiting, and seeing some pictures in a window on the other side of the street started to run across, and her foot slipped, and--and--” “I know,” Ned said. “I am glad you have told me, Polly. I am glad it was some one one knows something about. Don't say anything more now, I cannot bear it.” “I understand, sir,” the girl said gently. “God bless you!” Ned nodded. He could not trust himself to speak, and turning he passed on with Charlie through the village, while Mary Powlett, with the child still in her arms, stood looking sorrowfully after him as long as he was in sight. “So thou'st seen the boy?” Luke said, when on his return from work Polly told him what had happened. “Thou told's him, oi hope, how we all felt about it, and how grateful we was?” “I didn't say much, feyther, he could not bear it; just a word or two; if I had said more he would have broken out crying, and so should I.” “Thou hast cried enoo, lass, the last ten days. Thou hast done nowt but cry,” Luke said kindly, “and oi felt sore inclined to join thee. Oi ha' had hard work to keep back the tears, old though oi be, and oi a cropper.” “You are just as soft hearted as I am, feyther, every bit, so don't pretend you are not;” and indeed upon the previous day Luke Marner had broken down even more completely than Mary. He had followed the funeral at a short distance, keeping with Mary aloof from the crowd; but when all was over, and the churchyard was left in quiet again, Luke had gone and stood by the still open grave of the man who had given his life for his child's, and had stood there with the tears streaming down his cheeks, and his strong frame so shaken by emotion that Polly had been forced to dry her own eyes and stifle her sobs, and to lead him quietly away.