Thus weighted, he could not get out, till the
bailiff and another man had brought some faggots and a gate that
were happily near at hand, and helped him to drag the two out,
perfectly exhausted, and Martyn hardly conscious. They both were
carried to the Rectory,--Ellen by her father, Martyn by the
foreman,--and they were met at the door by the tidings that little
Anne was coming to herself.
Indeed, by the time Mr. Fordyce had put on dry clothes, all three
were safe in warm beds, and quite themselves again, so that he
trusted that no mischief was done; though he decided upon fetching
my mother to satisfy herself about Martyn. However, a ducking was
not much to a healthy fellow like Martyn, and my mother found him
quite fit to dress himself in the clothes she brought, and to return
home with her. Both the girls were asleep, but Ellen had had a
shivering fit, and her mother was with her, and was anxious. Emily
told her mother of Fanny Reynolds' unfortunate speech, and it was
thought right to mention it. Mrs. Fordyce listened kindly, kissed
Emily, and told her not to be distressed, for possibly it might turn
out to have been the best thing for Ellen to have learnt the fact at
such a moment; and, at any rate, it had spared her parents some
doubt and difficulty as to the communication.
CHAPTER XXXII--WALY, WALY
'And am I then forgot, forgot?
It broke the heart of Ellen!'
CAMPBELL
Clarence and Martyn walked over to Hillside the first thing the next
morning to inquire for the two sisters.
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