heart, which she could not h

The morning." "Tell us," said Margaret. Hester quietly seated herself
on the bed. "It concerns our valued friend, Mr Hope," said Mrs Grey.
Hester's colour had been going from the moment Mrs Grey entered the
room: it was now quite gone; but she preserved her calmness. "He was
safe when Sydney lost
sight of him, on the ridge of the hill, on the Dingleford road; but he
afterwards had an accident." "What kind of accident?" inquired
Margaret. "Is

he killed?" asked Hester. "No, not killed. He was found insensible in
the road. The miller's
boy observed his horse, without a rider,
plunge into the river below the dam, and swim across; and another
person
saw the pony Sydney had been riding, grazing
with a side-saddle on, on the common. This
made them search, and they found Mr Hope lying in the road insensible,
as
I told you." "What is thought of his state?" asked Margaret. "Two
medical men were called immediately

from the nearest places, and Mr Grey saw them

last night;