‘Reo is not seriously hurt,’ he said softly, when this point had been reached.

She bowed her head.  ’So Dr. Maryland brought word.  At last the hope.’

’He is only a good deal bruised.  No bones broken, nor any other harm done.  It might have been worse; and so the messenger who first came did not alarm us for nothing.  One of the woodcutters had felled a large tree without giving due warning, or Reo had not heeded the warning; he was caught under the tree.  But he escaped very well.  He is at his own house, where he will have to keep his bed some days, I fancy.’

Another mute gesture.  Perhaps the girl was not sure of herself after all the morning’s work, and had no mind to risk another admonition about self-control.

‘I am very glad,’ she said gravely, after a minute.

‘I am very glad.  Mr. Falkirk has sprained his ankle,’ he went on a little lower.

’Mr. Falkirk!’—­

Hazel sprang up,—­then as instantly sat down again.  There should be no more strength used about her that day!

‘Helping Reo?’ she said.

’Not directly.  He made a misstep, I think, among the confusion of branches cut and uncut with which the ground was encumbered; slipped off one of them, perhaps; somehow gave his foot a twist,—­and there he is.  That was the cause of my long delay.’  He spoke, watching the little lady all the while.

‘Why did he not come here?—­it was nearer,’ she said with some accent of impatience.

’No,’—­very gently—­’we were nearer his cottage.  I proposed bringing him,—­where I was sure you would wish for him,—­here, at once; but Mr. Falkirk laid his commands on me and on all concerned so absolutely that there was no choice.  We carried him to his cottage; for he could not walk.’

’Just like Mr. Falkirk!’—­then the impatience died away in a soft tone of pity.  ’Not able to walk!’—­

‘He will be a prisoner for some time, I am afraid.’

Hazel made no answer to that; thoughts were crowding in thick and fast.  What was she going to do, with Mr. Falkirk laid up?  Would she be a prisoner too?  Was she to live here in this great old house alone, by day as well as by night?  They were rather sober thoughts that came.

‘That’s very bad for Hazel,’ said Primrose, coming near and joining the group.  Hazel held out her hand and got fast hold of Prim’s.  She was ready for the sympathy this time.

‘Does he suffer very much, Mr. Rollo?’

’I don’t think he minds that part of it; no, I left him in comparative comfort.  I think his trouble is about you.  And he ought to have come here!—­but people don’t always know what they ought to do.  I am going down there again presently to look after him and make sure that Gotham understands bandages.

‘Gotham thinks he understands everything.’

’I’ll just make sure on that point.  Have you any commands before I go?’