length Tom,
losing patience, dashed into the water himself, and hooking him through
the jacket by the iron hook which he had fixed to the end of his stump,
dragged him across, not, however, without having to swim a short
distance, and consequently giving poor Stephen a thorough wetting. They
had two places of the same character to pass through, but by the
exertions of Tom, Stephen, more frightened than hurt, was at length
landed safely on the dry beach, and was able to accompany him on foot up
to the tower. On their way Tom told him that he had seen him go down,
and hearing from a fishwife the direction he had taken, he had come
after him to bring him back. On his reaching the tower, Stephen was
carried into a room which had never been used since its last occupant,
poor Jack, had slept in it; and while his own clothes were drying,
others were given him that he might appear at dinner. He guessed at
once to whom they had belonged. Tears came into Mrs Askew's eyes when
she saw him, and Margery treated him with more gentleness than she was
accustomed to do, forsooth to say, she had generally very little
patience with him, he was so far behind her idea of what a boy ought to
be. She thanked him again for the book; she had read a few pages and
found them very interesting, but would tell him more about her opinion
when they next met, and she had read it through. Stephen described the
appearance of the face in the cliff, and what the girl he had met had
said to him. The captain seemed to think that the face might have been
in his fancy, but he was puzzled to account for the girl being where he
found her, and not wishing to accompany him, as it was evident that she
must have known of some way up from the beach. The captain got a hint
which he resolved to make use of as opportunity should occur.

Margery ran off as soon as dinner was over to read more of the book
Stephen had lent her, and when she returned to the sitting-room to wish
him good-bye, as he was about to leave on his return home, she told him
that it was a delightful book, and that she was sure she should like it
better than any she had ever read. Stephen did not appear at all the
worse for his ducking and fright. Tom brought his pony round to the
door, and as he helped him to mount, he advised him to hurry home.--"A
storm's brewing, young gentleman, d'ye see, and a wetting with fresh
water will do ye more harm than the one with salt ye got this forenoon,"