It connected with a little tributary of the River Bale, and was believed to be very deep, especially at one point, where the tree-shadowed bank overhung the water at a height of some ten feet.

The way thither was by a field-path, starting from the high road within sight of Pear-tree Cottage.

At a rapid walk Quarrier soon reached his goal, and saw with satisfaction that men and boys were sweeping the snowy surface, whilst a few people had already begun to disport themselves where the black ice came to view.

In the afternoon he would come with Lilian; for the present, a second purpose occupied his thoughts.

Standing on the bank of Bale Water (thus was it named), he could see the topmost branches of that pear-tree which grew in the garden behind Mrs.Wade's cottage; two meadows lay between--a stretch of about a quarter of a mile.