you where she is gone, Monsieur. Back to the Manoir, I think. She will bring me some soup before it is dark.'
'But she's not at the Manoir. Where would she have gone? Where would she look for it? Can it have run down to the meadow?' cried Graham.
'To the island? How could it think of such a thing?—when Mademoiselle has always carried it? And in this storm!'
'And it could not get to the meadow. The bridge is under water,' the small boy volunteered suddenly.
'Under water? How do you know that?' his mother questioned.
'I went down to look this afternoon. The stream was almost level with it then. And I went to the bottom of the road and saw the dyke. All the people from Buissac were there. The water was running over the top and through the stones.'
'Running over the dyke?—And why did you not tell me?'
'Mademoiselle Marthe and Monsieur Trumier were there too, and they told me to say nothing, lest it should trouble you. But you would rather know that the kid could not be on the meadow,' said the boy with conviction.
'Pray Heaven the dyke does not give way!' the woman exclaimed. 'It is the best grazing land in the commune and we all remember the flood of fifteen years ago. Not only were six fine cows drowned, but the land was spoiled for two whole seasons. Some people
