Mr. Harding had walked on leisure
ly, his thoughts naturally reverting to
Janet Strong; and he used the time
in planning a little, as he often had of
late, to bring matters between them
around to his liking ; for I have told
you he was a man that hardly re
cognized defeat.
It so occurred that he was near
enough to Janet at this moment to
hear the splash as she dropped into
the water : and hurrying forward, lihe
caught sight of her as, in trying to
lead herself out by the limb, which
she still clung to it had broken, and
she was sliding back.
Mr. Harding was a good swimmer,
and lie easily rescued her, though she
had been carried out some little dis
tance from shore.
She had been wretchedly frightened,
and was in no condition for standing;
so lie placed her on a stone where she
could lean against a tree, and asked
what he could do for her.
There was a house not far back from
the shore, and she signified her inten
tion of walking to it; and after a few
moments longer, taken to recover her
self, she attempted to go. But she
could hardly step, and Mr. Harding
oftered her his arm.
While she had been sitting to gain
breath, she had sceemed to herself to
be the embodiment of all'weakness;
while he he who had rescued her, and
was now standing quietly before her,
seemed to possess all strength.' She
took his arm, Lhit, exhausted from the
shock she had just received, and un
happy at her own helplessness and
dependence, she hid her face on it,
and began to cry.
In another moment his other arm
supported her also.
