hall
want! Where is she--high up? Shall I get some of these men to help."

"She's on an outhouse roof. I dropped down, but it hurt me, you see,
and Vere daren't attempt it. A ladder would do, just one ladder.
There's Mr Carstairs--he'll come! I'll tell him where to go."

I did tell him, and the poor fellow's face of mingled rapture and fear
was touching to see; then Will went on in front, still carrying me in
his arms, while the others followed with ladders and sheets and all
kinds of things that might be needed. I was moaning to myself all the
time, and Will put down his head and said tenderly--

"Does it hurt so much, poor little girl?"

But it was my heart which hurt; I was so terrified of what we were going
to find.

She was still there. I lifted my head as we came round the corner of
the house, and I could see her. She was not sitting as when I had left,
but half standing, half crouching forward, her hands stretched out, her
hair loose over her shoulders. She looked like a mad woman; she _was_
mad, poor Vere, and the sight of us in the distance seemed to excite her
more than ever. We called to her; we begged her to be calm, to sit
still for one moment--just one moment longer. The men ran forward to
reassure her, but she didn't understand--she seemed past understanding.
Just as help was within reach she threw out her arms with a dreadful cry
and jumped, and her foot caught in the coping as she fell. Oh, I can't
write about it! I must forget, or I shall go mad myself!...

CHAPTER TEN.

_August 16th_.
They picked her up, poor Vere! the man who loved her, and the servants
who had known her since she was a child; picked her up and laid her on a
board which did duty for a stretcher, rolled up a pillow for her head,
and drew her golden hair back from her face. Mr Carstairs took off his
coat and laid it over her as she lay. His face was as white as hers,
and all drawn with pain, while hers was quite still and quiet. So
still! I was afraid to look at her, or to ask any questions.

Will put me down in a corner, and I sat there trembling and sick at
heart, watching the little procession go round the corner of the house.
I thought they had forgotten me, and I didn't care. I was past caring!
The pain and the shock and excitement were making me quite faint and
rambly in the head, when someone spoke to me suddenly, and put an arm
round my nec