He set his horse to the gallop, and called out.

The girl saw him, and paused.

In two minutes he was off his horse and beside her.
It was Alice Wingfield.

She had brought out three boys, who had come with her from London, where she had spent most of the year nursing their sick mother, her relative.
"I'll have him up in a minute," he said, as he led Saracen to a sapling near.

"Don't go near the horse." He swung himself down from ledge to ledge, and soon was beside the boy.
In another moment he had the youngster on his back, came slowly up, and the adventurer was safe.
"Silly Walter," the girl said, "to frighten yourself and give Mr.
Belward trouble." "I didn't think I'd be afraid," protested the lad; "but when I looked over the ledge my head went round, and I felt sick--like with the channel." Gaston had seen Alice Wingfield several times at church and in the village, and once when, with Lady Belward, he had returned the archdeacon's call; but she had been away most of the time since his arrival.