Come on,
then, you young rascal; you won't always find a young lady to pull
you out, nor a gentleman to swim across that there Avon. Upon my
honour, sir, there ain't many could have done that when it is in
flood."
He would gladly have escorted them home, but as the boy could not yet
stand, he was forced to carry him.
"You should walk fast," said John, as he and Sydney addressed
themselves to the ascent of the steep sloping ground above the river.
She assented, but she was a good deal strained, bruised, and spent,
and her heavy winter dress, muddied and soaked, clung to her and held
her back, and both laboured breathlessly without making much speed.
"I never guessed that a river was so strong," she said. "It was like
a live thing fighting to tear him away."
"How long had you stood there?"
"I can't guess. It felt endless! The boy could not help himself,
and I was getting so cramped that I must have let go if your call had
not given me just strength enough! And the tree would have come down
upon us!"
"I believe it would," muttered John.
"Mamma must thank you," whispered Sydney, holding out her hand.
He clasped it, saying almost inwardly—-
"God and His Angels were with you."
"I hope so," said Sydney softly.
They still held one another's hands, seeming to need the support in
the steep, grassy ascent, and there came a catch in John's breath
that made Sydney cry,
"You are not hurt?"
"That snag gave me a dig in the side, but it is nothing.
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