Bat, Austin, keep near Mrs.Weldon, so as to be able to help her if necessary.

You, Mr.Benedict--Why, what are you doing, Mr.Benedict ?" "I am falling!" innocently replied Cousin Benedict, who had just disappeared as if a trap had been suddenly opened beneath his feet.
In fact, the poor man had ventured on a sort of quagmire, and had disappeared half-way in the sticky mud.

They stretched out their hands, and he rose, covered with slime, but quite satisfied at not having injured his precious entomologist's box.

Acteon went beside him, and made it his duty to preserve the unlucky, near-sighted man from any new disasters.
Besides, Cousin Benedict had made rather a bad choice of the quagmire for his plunge.

When they drew him out of the sticky earth a large quantity of bubbles rose to the surface, and, in bursting, they emitted some gases of a suffocating odor.