ident was more serious; and
disappeared like a shot, leaping out through the open window. The next
minute I saw him carrying in the unlucky Jack, who was bleeding from a
cut in the forehead, and screaming vociferously.

"Don't be frightened, Mrs. Tod; it is very slight--I saw it done. Jack,
my lad!--be a man, and never mind it. Don't scream so; you alarm your
mother."

But as soon as the good woman was satisfied that there was no real
cause for terror, hers changed into hearty wrath against Jack for his
carelessness, and for giving so much trouble to the gentleman.

"But he be always getting into mischief, sir--that boy. Three months
back, the very day Mr. March came, he got playing with the
carriage-horse, and it kicked him and broke his arm. A deal he cares:
he be just as sprack as ever. As I say to Tod--it bean't no use
fretting over that boy."

"Have patience," answered John, who had again carried the unfortunate
young scapegrace from our parlour into Mrs. Tod's kitchen--the centre
room of the cottage; and was trying to divert the torrent of maternal
indignation, while he helped her to plaster up the still ugly looking
wound. "Come, forgive the lad. He will be more sorry afterwards than
if you had punished him."

"Do'ee think so?" said the woman, as, struck either by the words, the
manner, or the tone, she looked up straight at him. "Do'ee really
think so, Mr. Halifax?"

"I am sure of it. Nothing makes one so good as being forgiven when one
has been naughty. Isn't it so, Jack, my namesake?"

"Jack ought to be proud o' that, sir," said the mother, respectfully;
"and there's some sense in what you say, too. You talk like my man
does, o' Sundays. Tod be a Scotchman, Mr. Halifax; and they're good
folks, the Scotch, and read their Bibles hard. There's a deal about
forgiving in the Bible; isn't there, sir?"

"Exactly," John answered, smiling. "And so, Jack, you're safe this
time; only you must not disobey your mother again, for the sake of
donkeys or anything else."

"No, sir--thank'ee, sir," sobbed Jack, humbly. "You be a
gentleman--Mr. March bean't--he said it served me right for getting
under his horses."

"Hold thy tongue!" said Jack's mother, sharply; for the latch of the
opposite door was just then lifted, and a lady stood there.

"Mrs. Tod; my father says--"

Seeing strangers, the lady paused. At the sound of her voice--a
pleasant voice, though somewhat quick and decided in tone--Joh