C. I didn't think it could be you at first, because you
would have been at the wedding.'
Emily had not even time to meet Ellen's eyes before they were
startled by a shriek that was not the merry 'whoop' and 'I spy' of
the game, and, springing up, the girls saw little Anne Fordyce
rushing headlong down the very steepest part of the slope, just
where it ended in an extremely muddy pool, the watering-place of the
cattle. The child was totally unable to stop herself, and so was
Martyn, who was dashing after her. Not a word was said, though,
perhaps, there was a shriek or two, but the elder sisters flew with
one accord towards the pond. They also were some way above it, but
at some distance off, so that the descent was not so perpendicular,
and they could guard against over-running themselves. Ellen,
perhaps from knowing the ground better, was far before the other
two; but already poor little Anne had gone straight down, and fallen
flat on her face in the water, Martyn after her, perhaps with a
little more free will, for, though he too fell, he was already
struggling to lift Anne up, and had her head above water, when Ellen
arrived and dashed in to assist.
The pond began by being shallow, but the bottom sloped down into a
deep hollow, and was besides covered several feet deep with heavy
cattle-trodden mire and weeds, in which it was almost impossible to
gain a footing, or to move.
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