'tis where's the turf's so oozy, that even the feet of the cattle coming to drink don't leave a mark but is flooded out in an hour or so, by the force of the stream. But the grass was trailed over with water weeds, as though two or three persons had been pursuing each other into the brook and out again. And poor Jack's boots and stockings are still wet to the knee. No doubt some kind of brawl led to the fatal blow being struck."

"God sees all, and men will soon know all!" was the pious ejaculation of the wheelwright. "You must get up your courage, Downin', to face all this," continued he, on perceiving that, in spite of the endeavours of one or two of those who had accompanied the body home, and, by the constable's orders, were guarding the garden gate against intrusion, a few of the notables of the village had forced their way in, and were making their way towards the clerk, with neighbourly inquiries; while all along the hawthorn hedge, a line of faces was perceptible, peering with looks of wonder and horror into the garden,

as if some concluding act of the tragedy were still to be enacted.

On perceiving this, John Downing was readily persuaded to re-enter the house; and scarcely had he sunk once more into his place, when the rector in person made his way into the house, unshaved, uncombed, half-dressed; having hurried to the spot on being waked from his sleep with tidings of the terrible event which had occurred in his quiet parish; occurred, too, to the person of all others who, next to his own family, he could least afford to see overwhelmed with affliction.

"The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away, Downing!" said he, placing his hand affectionately on the shoulder of the poor clerk. "It is long since any of us could expect other than a violent death for yonder unfortunate young man. But cheer up, Downing you have still a hopeful child. You are not left wholly alone. God hath been pleased to visit you with a sore trial. But you must submit to His will, my good friend: you must submit, unquestioning, to His will; or Luke,

your good boy, your excellent son Luke, may be made to pay the penalty of your want of duty. Render your sacrifice, Downing, even as Abraham rendered his sacrifice; for the son whom your soul loveth, is not his young life also in the hands of the Most High?"

Just as the kind pastor had anticipated, at the sound of that beloved name, the tears of the suffering man burst forth; and for a time his sorrow was relieved.

As soon as he became more tranquil, the particulars of the unhappy case were fully entered into by Mr. Wigswell. By his instructions, a man and horse were despatched to Lewes with a summons to the coroner, till whose return no further steps could be taken. He also forwarded a letter to his friend Colonel Garrett, the nearest magistrate, requesting his immediate attendance. And what better proof of the habitual subordination of the village of Hartington, than the difficulty he found in deciding what steps were to be taken, and who were the proper persons to be applied to, to promote the avenging of the spilling of blood?

It was strange enough, as David Jukes observed aside, in a whisper to his reverence, that the only crowner's 'quest held in the village in the memory of man, was in that very house, on the body of poor Mrs. Downing.

When the business to be done was adjusted, the pastor prepared to return home, to satisfy the anxiety of his terrified family.

"If your reverence could only prevail on Master Downing to look at the body, afore you leave the house," resumed Jukes, in the same whisper, "the worst would be over, and a load off his mind. John Downin' isn't the man to resist whatever might be proposed by your reverence."

"I see no purpose in distressing him by such a spectacle," replied the humane clergyman, perhaps a little in awe of participating in the sorry sight. "There is no possible advantage to be derived from harrowing his feelings. Far rather that my influence could prevail with him to resign himself with meekness to the chastisements of the Almighty!

I would fain hear him say, before I go, God's will be done!"

A moment afterwards, extending his tremulous hand towards his kind master, John Downing repeated in broken accents, "Yea, God's will be done!" as though he had overheard the merciful interposition of the pastor to secure him against the sight which he so much dreaded.

"Don't leave him alone, Jukes.

You can

be trusted to take care of him. You must give up your work for to-day," said Mr. Wigswell to the wheelwright, on quitting the cottage. "I will look in again presently; but I doubt whether we shall be able to get the jury summoned before to-morrow; and till then, remember, nothing,-absolutely nothing, -must be done to the body."

The worthy rector was true to his promise. But, in the interim, manifold had been his duties. An occurrence of so appalling a nature might have created consternation even in such hotbeds of crime as Birmingham or Nottingham. But in the quiet Hams of quiet