CHAPTER X.
ELSPETH.
Eunice and Cricket exchanged frightened glances.
“Where is she now?” repeated Mary Ann, also looking scared.
“In ze water, ’tourse,” returned little Sylvie, impatiently. “Her sailed down ze water all zis way, an’ zen ze bushes taught her, an’ her touldn’t sail any more.”
“Listen! what’s that?” cried Eunice, with white lips.
A distant cry was becoming nearer and louder.
“My bairn! my bairn!” rang a wailing voice.
Around the curve of the brook ran a wild-eyed woman, wringing her hands.
Across the fields, attracted by her cries, two men came hurrying.
“She drowned! my bairn is drowned!” the hapless mother cried, pushing back her falling hair.