’It can’t be ‘elped,’ said Rhoda.  ’It’s just what it does do once in just so often.  We’d better go back.’

All earth under foot was sliding in a thousand liquid noises towards the hoarse brook.  Somebody wailed from the house:  ‘’Fraid o’ the water!  Come ’ere!  ‘Fraid o’ the water!’

’That’s Jimmy.  Wet always takes ‘im that way,’ she explained.  The idiot charged into them, shaking with terror.

’Brave Jimmy!  How brave of Jimmy!  Come into the hall.  What Jimmy got now?’ she crooned.  It was a sodden note which ran:  ’Dear Rhoda—­Mr. Lotten, with whom I rode home this afternoon, told me that if this wet keeps up, he’s afraid the fish-pond he built last year, where Coxen’s old mill-dam was, will go, as the dam did once before, he says.  If it does it’s bound to come down the brook.  It may be all right, but perhaps you had better look out.  C.S.’

’If Coxen’s dam goes, that means....  I’ll ’ave the drawing-room carpet up at once to be on the safe side.  The claw-’ammer is in the libery.’

‘Wait a minute.  Sidney’s gates are out, you said?’

‘Both.  He’ll need it if Coxen’s pond goes....  I’ve seen it once.’

’I’ll just slip down and have a look at Sidney.  Light the lantern again, please, Rhoda.’

’You won’t get him to stir.  He’s been there since he was born.  But she don’t know anything.  I’ll fetch your waterproof and some top-boots.’

‘’Fraid o’ the water!  ‘Fraid o’ the water!’ Jimmy sobbed, pressed against a corner of the hall, his hands to his eyes.

‘All right, Jimmy.  Jimmy can help play with the carpet,’ Rhoda answered, as Midmore went forth into the darkness and the roarings all round.  He had never seen such an utterly unregulated state of affairs.  There was another lantern reflected on the streaming drive.

’Hi!  Rhoda!  Did you get my note?  I came down to make sure.  I thought, afterwards, Jimmy might funk the water!’

‘It’s me—­Miss Sperrit,’ Midmore cried.  ‘Yes, we got it, thanks.’

‘You’re back, then.  Oh, good!...  Is it bad down with you?’

‘I’m going to Sidney’s to have a look.’

’You won’t get him out.  ’Lucky I met Bob Lotten.  I told him he hadn’t any business impounding water for his idiotic trout without rebuilding the dam.’

‘How far up is it?  I’ve only been there once.’

’Not more than four miles as the water will come.  He says he’s opened all the sluices.’

She had turned and fallen into step beside him, her hooded head bowed against the thinning rain.  As usual she was humming to herself.

‘Why on earth did you come out in this weather?’ Midmore asked.

’It was worse when you were in town.  The rain’s taking off now.  If it wasn’t for that pond, I wouldn’t worry so much.  There’s Sidney’s bell.  Come on!’ She broke into a run.  A cracked bell was jangling feebly down the valley.