She neither blushed nor looked shy. Indeed, she was too frightened, too
absorbed by her desire for his recovery to remember herself, or the fact
that this strange man's head was lying on her knee.
"I must have been unconscious," he said, almost to himself. "Yes, I've
struck my head."
Then he got to his feet and stood looking at her; and his face was, if
anything, whiter than it had been.
"I'm very sorry. Permit me to apologize, for I must have frightened you
awfully. And"--he looked at her dress, upon which was a large wet patch
where his head had rested--"and I've spoiled your dress. In short, I've
made a miserable nuisance of myself."
Nell passed his apology by.
"Are you hurt?" she asked anxiously.
"No; I think not," he replied. "I can't think how I managed to come off;
I don't usually make such an ass of myself."
He went for his hat, but as he stooped to pick it up he staggered, and
Nell ran to him and caught his arm.
"You are hurt!" she said. "I--I was afraid so!"
"I'm giddy, that's all, I think," he said; but his lips closed tightly
after his speech, and they twitched at the corners. "I expect my horse
is more damaged than I am," he added, and he walked, very slowly, to
where the animal stood looking from side to side with a startled air.
"Yes; knees cut. Poor old chap! It was my fault--my fau----"
He stopped, and put his hand to his head as if he were confused.
Nell went and stood close by him, with a vague kind of idea that he was
going to fall and that she might help him, support him.
"You are in pain?" she asked, her brow wrinkled with her anxiety, her
eyes darkened with her womanly sympathy and pity.
"Yes," he admitted frankly. "I've knocked my head, and"--he touched his
arm--"and, yes, I'm afraid I've broken my arm."
"Oh!"--cried Nell, startled and aghast--"oh! you must come into the
house at once--at once."
He glanced at the cottage.
"Your house?"
"Yes," said Nell. "Oh, come, please. You may faint again----"
"Oh, no, I shan't."
"But you may--you may! Take my arm; lean on me----"
He took her arm, but did not lean on her, and he smiled down at her.