“One of you go for a doctor at once,” said Mr. Bellingham authoritatively, “and bring him to the old woman’s without delay.  You must not hold him any longer,” he continued, speaking to Ruth, and remembering her face now for the first time; “your dress is dripping wet already.  Here! you fellow, take him up, d’ye see!” But the child’s hand had nervously clenched Ruth’s dress, and she would not have him disturbed.  She carried her heavy burden very tenderly towards a mean little cottage indicated by the neighhours; an old crippled woman was coming out of the door, shaking all over with agitation.

“Dear heart!” said she, “he’s the last of ’em all, and he’s gone afore me.”

“Nonsense,” said Mr. Bellingham, “the boy is alive, and likely to live.”

But the old woman was helpless and hopeless, and insisted on believing that her grandson was dead; and dead he would have been if it had not been for Ruth, and one or two of the more sensible neighbours, who, under Mr. Bellingham’s directions, bustled about, and did all that was necessary until animation was restored.

“What a confounded time those people are in fetching the doctor!” said Mr. Bellingham to Ruth, between whom and himself a sort of silent understanding had sprung up from the circumstance of their having been the only two (besides mere children) who had witnessed the accident, and also the only two to whom a certain degree of cultivation had given the power of understanding each other’s thoughts and even each other’s words.

“It takes so much to knock an idea into such stupid people’s heads.  They stood gaping and asking which doctor they were to go for, as if it signified whether it was Brown or Smith, so long as he had his wits about him.  I have no more time to waste here, either; I was on the gallop when I caught sight of the lad; and, now he has fairly sobbed and opened his eyes, I see no use in my staying in this stifling atmosphere.  May I trouble you with one thing?  Will you be so good as to see that the little fellow has all that he wants?  If you’ll allow me, I’ll leave you my purse,” continued he, giving it to Ruth, who was only too glad to have this power entrusted to her of procuring one or two requisites which she had perceived to be wanted.  But she saw some gold between the network; she did not like the charge of such riches.

“I shall not want so much, really, sir.  One sovereign will be plenty—­more than enough.  May I take that out, and I will give you back what is left of it when I see you again? or, perhaps, I had better send it to you, sir.

“I think you had better keep it all at present.  Oh, what a horrid dirty place this is insufferable two minutes longer.  You must not stay here; you’ll be poisoned with this abominable air.  Come towards the door, I beg.  Well, if you think one sovereign will he enough, I will take my purse; only, remember you apply to me if you think they want more.”