"
"Mr. Oswald does not mean to allow that," said Miss Evelyn.
"Certainly not; I told him that if he did anything so foolish I
should certainly never call him in. Now let me hear about it,
Sydney, for he was in rather too much pain to be questioned, and I
only heard that you had shown courage and presence of mind."
The mother and brother might well shudder as they heard how nearly
their joy had been turned into mourning. The river was a dangerous
one, and to stem the current in full flood had been no slight
exploit; still more the recovery of the boy after receiving such a
blow from the tree.
"Very nobly done by both," said Fordham, bending to kiss his sister
as she finished.
"Most thankworthy," said Mrs. Evelyn.
There was a brief space spent silently by both Mrs. Evelyn and her
son on their knees, and then the former went up to the little
bachelor-room where in the throng of guests John had been bestowed,
and where she found him lying, rather pale, but very content, and her
eyes filled with tears as she took his hand, saying—-
"You know what I have come for?"
"How is she?" he said, looking eagerly in her face.
"Well, I think, but rather strained and very much tired, so I shall
keep her in her room for precaution's sake, as to-morrow will be a
bustling day.
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