Drowned?
No. But wet through, and senseless from mingled cold and laudanum.
Whether he had meant to drown himself, and lighting on the shallow, had stumbled on till he fell exhausted: or whether he had merely blundered into the stream, careless whither he went, Tom knew not, and never knew; for Elsley himself could not recollect.
Tom took him in his arms, carried him ashore and up through the water meadow; borrowed a blanket and a wheelbarrow at the nearest cottage; wrapped him up; and made the offending surgeon's assistant wheel him to his lodgings.
He sat with him there an hour; and then entered Mark's house again with his usual composed face, to find Mark and Mary sitting up in great anxiety.
"Mr. Armsworth, does the telegraph work at this time of night?"
"I'll make it, if it is wanted. But what's the matter?"
"You will indeed?"
"'Gad, I'll go myself and kick up the station-master. What's the matter?"
"That if poor Mrs. Vavasour wishes to see her husband alive, she must be here in four-and-twenty hours. I'll tell you all presently—"