Page:Herbert Jenkins - The Rain Girl.djvu/154

 as he caught sight of the ends of his tie, which had been undone.

"You fainted," said the girl gently. "Now lie quite still and you'll feel better presently."

"I remember," he said, "I"

"You mustn't talk," she said with a business-like air of authority.

"I shall be all right in a minute," he said. "Tallis said I mustn't get excited. You know, I got pneumonia that day and—and I was ill for a long time. That is why I didn't turn up to breakfast," and his voice trailed off faintly.

"Will you please stand back there?" he heard the Rain-Girl say to several people who had approached; then as he opened his eyes again she bent down and whispered, "Will you tell me your name? It's—it's a little awkward."

"Yes, isn't it?" he said quizzically. "Beresford, Richard Beresford."

She nodded. "And now," she said, "I think you might have a little of this brandy," and with that she lifted a glass to his lips.

He drank and a few seconds later, with a deep sigh, raised himself to a sitting posture.

"I'm—I'm most awfully sorry," he said, looking from the girl to a little group of guests a few yards away.

"You had better not talk," she said as she beckoned to two of the waiters. "Lift Mr. Beresford on to his chair," she said; then she added, turning