Page:Tomlinson--The rider of the black horse.djvu/375

Rh manner, and soon the nearly exhausted young soldier was asleep.

It was daylight before he awoke, and when he opened his eyes he beheld the woman seated in a chair by the window and looking toward the road. For a brief time he did not stir, but lay quietly watching her. He was refreshed by his sleep, but as he tried to move, the pain in his shoulder returned, and he became aware how weak he was.

The woman turned and glanced at him, and perceiving that his eyes were open she came quickly to his side.

"Better?" she inquired simply.

"I think so."

"What do you intend to do now?"

"I must try to go on." "Where?"

"I—I don't know."

"I 've been thinking about you."

"That's good of you." In the clearer light Robert could see that she was a woman in middle life, and as he saw the kindly and motherly expression in her face he was reminded of his own mother back among the hills of Jersey.

"You can't stay here," she said.

"No-o. I don't believe I can."