530



The Channings



cotton handkerchief, fellow to the one on Charley's
head, being pinned over her white calico cap.
  Many unexpected meetings take place in this life.
A casual acquaintance whom we have met years ago,
but whom we never expected to see again, may come
across our path to-morrow. You, my reader, did not,
I am sure, expect to meet that woman again, whom
you saw hanging up linen in a boat, as it glided by
under the old cathedral walls, under the noses of By-
water and a few more of his tribe, the morning they
were throwing away those unlucky keys, which they
fondly thought were never to be fished up again. But
here is that very woman before you now, come to pay
these pages as unexpected a visit as the keys paid to
the college boys. Not more unlooked for, and not more
strange than some of our meetings in actual life.
  " Mamma, I have been ill; I have been nearly dying;
and she has nursed me through it, and been kind to
me. "
  Mrs. Channing leaned forward and grasped the
woman's hand, gratitude shining in her wet eyes. Mr.
Channing and Judith had a fight which should grasp
the other. Lady Augusta laid hold of her behind, Sarah
assailed her in front. There appeared to be no room
left for Constance and the bishop, or they might have
assisted at the demonstration-as the French say.
  It was soon explained. That same barge had been
passing down stream again that night, when Charlev
fell into the water. The man heard the splash, called
to his horse to stop, leaped overboard, and saved him.
A poor little boy, with a wound in his head, quite
senseless, it proved to be, wvhen they had him on board
and laid him on the bench for inspection. Meanwhile
the docile horse went on of its own accord, and before
the knotty question was decided as to whether the man
should bring-to, and get him on shore, and try and
discover to whom he belonged, the barge was clear of
the town, for the current was strong. It had been
nearly clear of it when it passed the cathedral wall,
and the splash occurred. The man thought it as well
that it was so; his voyage, this journey, was being
made against time, and he dared not linger. Had
Diggs, the boat-house keeper's mother not put her head