worse."

Mr Draycott stared at his man, and began to frown. Strange suspicions
attacked him as he saw that Jerry looked rough and unkempt. His hair
was not brushed; he had evidently not washed that morning, and his
Oxford mixture coat was marked by flour.

"By the way, sir," said the tutor, angrily, "where have you been? I
rang twice, to send you to the doctor's, but the bell was not answered.
Were you not up?"

"Not up, sir? Oh, yes; I was up and out long enough ago!"

"Out?"

"Yes, sir," said Jerry, speaking very sturdily and solemnly; and he
related all that he had seen, with the result that the tutor sank into
the nearest chair, looking ghastly, and with his lips moving, but not
uttering a sound.

Jerry stood looking down at him sadly, and at the end of a few minutes
he filled a glass from a waterbottle and handed the water to his master,
who swallowed it hurriedly.

"This is too dreadful," said the latter, huskily; "too dreadful! But
are you sure, my man--are you sure?"

"Yes, sir, sure enough!" replied Jerry, with a hoarse sob. "The miller
saw him just before."

"A terrible business--a terrible business! I thought we were beginning
to see daylight again; but--poor weak rash boy!--this is ten times
worse!"

"Yes, sir--a hundred times!" said Jerry, with a groan; and master and
man gazed in each other's eyes for some time in silence, till Mr
Draycott gave a start.

"I am so stunned and helpless with this trouble upon trouble," he cried
huskily, "that I can hardly think--I can hardly believe it true. Tell
me what you have done. You gave notice to the police, of course?"

"The police, sir?" said Jerry, with a vacant look. "No; I never thought
of that!"

"And you have not given the alarm--sent people down the river in boats?"

Jerry shook his head in a weary, helpless way.

"Quick, then; do something, man!" cried Mr Draycott, wildly. "Run to
the station and tell the inspector; they will take steps at once."

"I--I thought you would want to hush it up, sir."

"Hush it up, man!" cried the tutor, angrily. "You are crazy!"

"Yes, sir, pretty nigh," said Jerry, pitifully. "My head feels as if it
won't go; and I don't know what I'm saying half my time."

"I beg your pardon, Brigley," cried the tutor. "I spoke too hastily. I
quite understand your feelings; but steps must be taken instantly. The
truth must be known--the cruel truth!" he added, with a groan. "Yes;
what is it?"

There w