tent was still under the bank in the carr, and that they could see
nobody; though the wild-ducks and geese made such a fluttering and
noise, now and then, that it seemed as if some one was lurking about the
ponds. Often in the course of the morning, too, did Mr Linacre look
out of the mill-window, or nod to them from the top of the steps, that
they might see that he did not forget them. Meantime, the white smoke
curled up from the kitchen chimney, as Ailwin cooked the dinner; and
little George's voice and hers were often heard from within, as if they
were having some fun together.

The children were very hot, and began to say that they were hungry, and
thought dinner-time was near, when they suddenly felt a strong rush of
wind from the west. Oliver lost his cap, and was running after it, when
both heard a loud shout from their father, and looked up. They had
never heard him shout so loud as he now did, bidding them run up the
Red-hill that moment. He waved his arm and his cap in that direction,
as if he was mad. Mildred scampered up the hill. She did not know why,
nor what was the meaning of the rolling, roaring thunder which seemed to
convulse the air: but her head was full of Roger; and she thought it was
some mischief of his. One part of the Red-hill was very steep, and the
ground soft. Her feet slipped on the moss first, and when she had got
above the moss, the red earth crumbled; and she went back at every step,
till she caught hold of some brambles, and then of the trunk of a tree;
so that, trembling and panting, she reached at last the top of the
eminence.

When she looked round, she saw a rushing, roaring river where the garden
had been, just before. Rough waters were dashing up against the hill on
which she stood,--against the house,--and against the mill. She saw the
flood spreading, as rapidly as the light at sunrise, over the whole
expanse of the Levels. She saw another flood bursting in from the
Humber, on the north-east, and meeting that which had just swept by;--
she saw the two floods swallowing up field after field, meadow after
meadow, splashing up against every house, and surrounding all, so that
the roofs, and the stacks beside them, looked like so many little
islands. She saw these things in a moment, but did not heed them till
afterwards,--for, where was Oliver?

Oliver was safe, though it was rather a wonder that he was so,
considering his care for his cap. Oliver was an orderly b