Little and Ransome carried the child away, and it was conveyed to the hospital and a healthy nurse assigned it.

Ransome prevailed on Little to go home, change his wet clothes and lie down for an hour or two.  He consented, but first gave Ransome an order to lay out a thousand pounds, at his expense, in relief of the sufferers.

Then he went home, sent a message to Raby Hall, that he was all right, took off his clothes, rolled exhausted into bed, and slept till the afternoon.

At four o’clock he rose, got into a hansom, and drove up to Woodbine Villa, the happiest man in England.

He inquired for Miss Carden.  The man said he believed she was not up, but would inquire.

“Do,” said Little.  “Tell her who it is.  I’ll wait in the dining-room.”

He walked into the dining-room before the man could object, and there he found a sick gentleman, with Dr. Amboyne and a surgeon examining him.  The patient lay on a sofa, extremely pale, and groaning with pain.

One glance sufficed.  It was Frederick Coventry.

CHAPTER XLVII.

“What! you alive?” said Little, staring.

“Alive, and that is all,” said Coventry.  “Pray excuse me for not dying to please you.”

Ere Little could reply, Mr. Carden, who had heard of his arrival, looked in from the library, and beckoned him in.

When they were alone, he began by giving the young man his hand, and then thanked him warmly for his daughter.  “You have shown yourself a hero in courage.  Now go one step further; be a hero in fortitude and self-denial; that unhappy man in the next room is her husband; like you, he risked his life to save her.  He tells me he heard the dam was going to burst, and came instantly with a ladder to rescue her.  He was less fortunate than you, and failed to rescue her; less fortunate than you again, he has received a mortal injury in that attempt.  It was I who found him; I went down distracted with anxiety, to look for my daughter; I found this poor creature jammed tight between the tree he was upon and a quantity of heavy timber that had accumulated and rested against a bank.  We released him with great difficulty.  It was a long time before he could speak; and then, his first inquiry was after her.  Show some pity for an erring man, Mr. Little; some consideration for my daughter’s reputation.  Let him die in peace:  his spine is broken; he can’t live many days.”

Little heard all this and looked down on the ground for some time in silence.  At last he said firmly, “Mr. Carden, I would not be inhuman to a dying man; but you were always his friend, and never mine.  Let me see her, and I’ll tell her what you say, and take her advice.”

“You shall see her, of course; but not just now.  She is in bed, attended by a Sister of Charity, whom she telegraphed for.”

“Can I see that lady?”