ngements for bathing having been made on
the further or school side. There had sometimes been a question whether a
rail should not be placed for protection along the top of this cliff, but
nothing of the kind had yet been done. The boys were not supposed to play
in this field, which was on the other side of the river, and could only be
reached by the bridge through the parsonage garden.

On this day young De Lawle and his friend and the dog rushed up the hill
before Mrs. Wortle, and there began to romp, as was their custom. Mary
Wortle, who was one of the party, followed them, enjoining the children to
keep away from the cliff. For a while they did so, but of course
returned. Once or twice they were recalled and scolded, always asserting
that the fault was altogether with Neptune. It was Neptune that knocked
them down and always pushed them towards the river. Perhaps it was
Neptune; but be that as it might, there came a moment very terrible to
them all. The dog in one of his gyrations came violently against the
little boy, knocked him off his legs, and pushed him over the edge. Mrs.
Wortle, who had been making her way slowly up the hill, saw the fall,
heard the splash, and fell immediately to the ground.

Other eyes had also seen the accident. The Doctor and Mr. Peacocke were
at the moment walking together in the playgrounds at the school side of
the brook. When the boy fell they had paused in their walk, and were
standing, the Doctor with his back to the stream, and the assistant with
his face turned towards the cliff. A loud exclamation broke from his lips
as he saw the fall, but in a moment,--almost before the Doctor had
realised the accident which had occurred,--he was in the water, and two
minutes afterwards young De Lawle, drenched indeed, frightened, and out of
breath, but in nowise seriously hurt, was out upon the bank; and Mr.
Peacocke, drenched also, but equally safe, was standing over him, while
the Doctor on his knees was satisfying himself that his little charge had
received no fatal injury. It need hardly be explained that such a
termination as this to such an accident had greatly increased the good
feeling with which Mr. Peacocke was regarded by all the inhabitants of the
school and Rectory.

CHAPTER III.

THE MYSTERY.

MR. PEACOCKE himself said that in this matter a great deal of fuss was
made about nothing. Perhaps it was so. He got a ducking, but, being a
strong swimmer, probabl