The full story had come to
light. The Reynolds' boys had grown boisterous as soon as the
restraint of the young ladies' participation had been removed, and
had, whether intentionally or not, terrified little Anne in the
chases of hide-and-seek. Finally, one of them had probably been
unable to withstand the temptation of seeing her timid nervous way
of peeping and prying about; and had, without waiting to be properly
found, leapt out of his lair with a roar that scared the little girl
nearly out of her wits, and sent her flying, she knew not whither.
Martyn was a few steps behind, only not holding her hand, because
the other children had derided her for clinging to his protection.
He had instantly seen where she was going, and shouted to her to
stop and take care; but she was past attending to him, and he had no
choice but to dart after her, seeing what was inevitable; while
George Reynolds had sense to stop in time, and seek a safer descent.
Had Martyn not been there to raise the child instantly from the
stifling mud, her sister could hardly have been in time to save her.
Mrs. Fordyce tearfully kissed him; her husband called him a little
hero, as if in joke, then gravely blessed him; and he looked,
Clarence related, as if he had been in the greatest possible
disgrace.
It was the second time that one of us had saved a life from
drowning, but there was none of the exultation we had felt that time
before in London.
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