'He has been thrown out of his gig in the Bridge Way, and he was taken up
for dead. They were carrying him home as we were coming to church, and I
stayed behind to see what I could do. I went in to speak to Mrs.
Dempster, and prepare her a little, but she was not at home. Dempster is
not dead, however, he was stunned with the fall. Pilgrim came in a few
minutes, and he says the right leg is broken in two places. It's likely
to be a terrible case, with his state of body. It seems he was more drunk
than usual, and they say he came along the Bridge Way flogging his horse
like a madman, till at last it gave a sudden wheel, and he was pitched
out. The servants said they didn't know where Mrs. Dempster was: she had
been away from home since yesterday morning; but Mrs. Raynor knew.'

'I know where she is,' said Mr. Tryan; 'but I think it will be better for
her not to be told of this just yet.'

'Ah, that was what Pilgrim said, and so I didn't go round to Mrs.
Raynor's. He said it would be all the better if Mrs. Dempster could be
kept out of the house for the present. Do you know if anything new has
happened between Dempster and his wife lately? I was surprised to hear of
her being at Paddiford Church this morning.'

'Yes, something has happened; but I believe she is anxious that the
particulars of his behaviour towards her should not be known. She is at
Mrs. Pettifer's--there is no reason for concealing that, since what has
happened to her husband; and yesterday, when she was in very deep
trouble, she sent for me. I was very thankful she did so: I believe a
great change of feeling has begun in her. But she is at present in that
excitable state of mind--she has been shaken by so many painful emotions
during the last two days, that I think it would be better, for this
evening at least, to guard her from a new shock, if possible. But I am
going now to call upon her, and I shall see how she is.'

'Mr. Tryan,' said Mr. Jerome, who had entered during the dialogue, and
had been standing by, listening with a distressed face, 'I shall take it
as a favour if you'll let me know if iver there's anything I can do for
Mrs. Dempster. Eh, dear, what a world this is! I think I see 'em fifteen
year ago--as happy a young couple as iver was; and now, what it's all
come to! I was in a hurry, like, to punish Dempster for pessecutin', but
there was a stronger hand at work nor mine.'

'Yes, Mr. Jerome; but don't let us rejoice in punishment, ev