'We must carry him to the waggon,' said Mrs. Dale.

Mr. Lawley tried to raise him; but the child screamed with pain.

'There is something more the matter than the broken leg, I'm afraid,' Mr. Lawley whispered to Mrs. Lawley.

'He cannot lie there; he will catch his death of cold,' said Mrs. Dale. 'Let us run to the waggon and get the rugs.'

They all ran, and, coming back with rugs and shawls, covered up Frank well from the rain.

It was getting late now. They should have been home before this. The sky was quite black. It had set in a stormy evening. None of the children liked to go away from the place where Frank was lying, until Mrs. Lawley insisted on their doing so for fear they should take cold. Then there came an awful clap of thunder, and several of the children—that is, Willie and Mary Dale and Louisa Lisle-shrieked and hid their faces. It got so cold, with the rain and their sorrow and their fear, that it no more felt like a summer evening; and they all crouched together in the waggon, as much to keep themselves warm as for company in their distress.

In all this rain, and thunder, and lightning, Mr. Dale rode in search of the doctor. His horse was frightened, he did not like the flash of the lightning in his eyes; and he refused sometimes to go on; but stood on his hind legs, as if that would do him any good. And after nearly two hours of riding about, Mr. the doctor's black horse tied to a gate. glad he was! The doctor's horse did not care much about the storm, he was used to it pretty well, as he and his master had to go out in all weathers.

Dale saw

Oh how

Off his horse Mr. Dale jumped, and led him up to the gate. 'Doctor Groves is here?' he asked. Doctor Groves heard his name, and came out of the cottage.

When he saw Mr. Dale, he said, just as the villagers had said—

'Nothing the matter, I hope?'

'Yes,' said Mr. Dale, 'little Frank Walton has broken his leg.'

I'll come at once,' said the Doctor, getting on his horse.

To the wood they went as hard as ever they could go; and as they rode, Mr. Dale told Doctor Groves all that he knew about how it had happened.

'My poor little friend, Toby!' said Doctor Groves. I am much vexed anything should have happened to him.'

They had to stop at Dr. Groves's house as they passed through the village, so that he might take some splints and bandages with him.

As soon as the Doctor's horse stopped at his own door, the maid-servant ran into the hall and said

Please, sir, you're wanted at once out at Milton.'

'What for? who to ?' asked Doctor Groves.

6

And please, sir,' said Joseph, the stable-man, coming slowly out of the yard, Turner have sent in, and he wants you immediate.'

What's the matter with him ?'

'I don't know, I'm sure,' said Joseph, scratching his head.

'Did not you ask?' said Doctor Groves.

Noa.'

'Did he not leave any more message than that ?'

'Noa,' said Joseph.

Mr. Dale wondered at Doctor Groves's patience. He could not get into the house, before he had been seized by three or four people; one with a

headache, another with the stomach ache, and a third who had, like Sam Brown, over-eaten himself.

Mr. Dale began to think that it would be night before they got back to Cheveleigh Wood; and still the rain poured down upon their heads, but they did not mind that.

At last, Doctor Groves got rid of all the people, and was in his saddle again; and then they lost no time. How glad all those who were waiting and watching for him were, when they heard the clattering of their horses' hoofs coming down the road; and when, on looking out, they saw Mr. Dale bringing Doctor Groves with him as fast as they both could ride.

It had left off thundering and lightening now, and the rain had stopped, so that the children could come out of the waggon; but it was very nearly dark. Mrs. Lawley thought they had better begin to walk home, but then every one begged to remain until they knew whether Toby was very much hurt, so that Mrs. Lawley did not like to say 'No,' because it was kind of them to care so much about poor little Toby. But she told the boys that they might as well employ themselves in saddling the donkeys; for there is nothing so bad as being idle when we feel un