’You’re right,’ said Piper. ’Us had better have white faces and get clear of horses and other gear before he sees us.’
’We must be quick,’ said Sam Voaden. ’Larry must be got home as fast as may be.’
Then they ran, some to the well in the bank, some—Sam, of course—into the cottage, and left Honor for a moment or two beside the prostrate man, kneeling, holding the guttering candle with one hand, and screening the flame from the wind with the other.
Then Larry opened his eyes, and looked long and earnestly into her face. He said nothing. He did not stir a finger; but his eyes spoke.
’Larry!’ she breathed. Her heart spoke in her voice, ’Larry, are you much hurt?’
She looked at him with surprise: at first hardly comprehending his meaning.
Then Kate came down the steps with the scissors.
’O Honor! How dreadful! I told him not to go! I told him you disapproved! And now he is punished. O Honor! is he badly injured? He is not killed?’
’No, Kate, he is not killed. How far hurt I cannot tell. Larry! you must let me move you. I may hurt you a little——’
’You cannot hurt me,’ he said. ’I have hurt myself.’
’O Honor!’ exclaimed Kate. ’If he can speak he is not so bad. Shall I help?’
’No, Kate,’ answered Honor, ’go back to the cottage and give the young men what they want to clean their faces; those at the well also. I can manage Larry by myself.’
’Larry! you must let me raise you a little bit. Tell me truly, are any bones broken?’
’I do not know, Honor. I feel as if I could not move. I am full of pain, full in all my limbs, but most full in my heart.’
She began to cut up the seams of the sleeves.
’I cannot move my right arm,’ he said. ’I suppose there is some breakage there.’
’Yes,’ she said gravely, ’I can feel a bone is broken.’
’If that be all it does not matter,’ he said more cheerfully, ’but I want to say to you, Honor, something whilst no one is by.’
’I have done very wrong in many ways. I have been a fool, and I shall never be anything else unless you——’
’Never mind that now,’ she hastily interrupted him. ’We must think only at present of your aching joints and broken bones.’
Then Oliver Luxmore’s voice was heard calling, and asking what was the matter? Who were in the house? He had been roused from his sleep and was alarmed. Kate ran up the stairs to pacify him, and when he knew the circumstances he hastily dressed.