Page:All the Year Round - Series 3 - Volume 2.pdf/614

 604 — December 28, 1889.1

ALL THE YEAR ROUND,

Greystone, and tell him to send this staff at once.”

“It’s a bad case, I fear,” this Hoel, “and I might have been in the same circum- atance,”

“Poor fellow; the amputation was the only chance, and I fear he will sink. Mind you rest. Miss Kestell, I must make you responsible for this patient,”

Elva nodded her head and drove off carefully, The groom was behind them, so nothing of importance could be said, which was as well for Hoel, for, now he was away from the scene of the accident, he felt a good deal stunned, and he Isy back in the carriage and closed his eyes. Elva’s heart was too fall to aay mach ; and also, now ythat the excitement and the danger were ‘over, she was not go willing to show what ahe had gone through.

“Who was the one remaining?” she

capi “Has he been snffering| ‘Don’t agitate

time

“No, I don't think he’s suffering mach ; but he’s blocked in in a most peculiar way. I went once or twice to see what I cor do for him; but, seeing he was pretty cheerful, we left him, I think he said hia name was Button, and bound for Grey- atone. He and I were the only passengers

for Greystone, so I felt an interest in him; bat he said that he was pretty comfortable, and we were to see to the others, He can’t move hand or foot, and it seems a miracle he’s alive.”

“Button? I seem to know the name, I dare say paps will know. He knows the Greystone people better than we do, of course.”

«So you drove on when you heard,” said Hoel, in a low voice. “I was #0 much afraid you would—soffer or be hurt by these painfal scenes,”

“JT shall always be glad I came,” ssid Elva, “Bat you ought not to talk. Am I shaking yout Stil, the sooner we are at poy tinfied with my présent

“T am quite sati my circumstances,” said Hoel, in his ht way, and yet Elva could not doubt that from his tone the words wers true.

She blushed deeply ; she could not find a artes as umual, The injured arm, now in an extemporised sling, occasionally touched her, and seemed to send a strange thrill of pride through ber. Courage in a man has the same magic effect on a woman as the exhibition of womanly tendernesa tox man. The highest developement of the special attribute of the sex often deceives

the opposite gender. A man often docs nob are realice that a courageous woman may be infinitely better than one who is easily moved by the sorrow of others; and & woman glorying in the hero, whose courage is palpable, forgets that a lion- hearted man can be very selfish ; may, in fact, make » very bad

It was getting dusk when the ponies drove up to Rushbrook House, and the hero of the day walked into the hall, Erretes Elva, At the same moment

» Keatell hurried in, having only just heard of the accident.

‘My darling,” he said, quickly, “thank Heaven you are back with Mr. Fenner. Pve only just heard. Don’t go into the dra room and startle your mother, dear. will her, Mr, Fenner, what cam we get for you! Jones is a

ital nurse.” dear old dad yourself, » laughed Elva, now quite hereelf, after the a 5 iaite: ee se ia not yery bad, and nearly x people are extricated now. Where wamice '

Not come in yet, Iam giad you are not too much upset, Yow, that is right Dr. Pink will come in, I conclude.”

“Yes, man, if he can, He will have his Finds fol, Dr, Roberts amd another man are there.”

Elva went upstairs, and Jones and Mr, Fenner followed.

“¥f you prefer coming down, you can He on the Iii sofe,” she said, and then went into her own room,

en into ft Sas pr how oxcit was; how er ¢)

She locked her door, and ‘walled up and down, thinking deeply of Hoel. ‘Then, stopping short, she knelt down and laid her head on a chair, and sobbed.

“T am sure now, Hoel. Hoel, I love you,” she sobbed. “For better for worse, you are my hero.”

The teara were not all happiness, For sach a child of freedom as she was, with the love and joy came « feeling of curious regret ; for, to love means a great deal of unsel a great deal of giving up- of self, and Elva had never yot understood this.

Tt was an hour later when she softly opened the li door, Jones and her father had been most kind, and had dono all that could be done till the doctor came again. Mr. Kestell wanted to tel to London, but Hoel wonld not hear of it. And now he had begged to see Elva for s few moments.

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