But by and by they left Dard and strolled towards the other end of the park.  Then did our astronomer fling down his tube, and come running out in hopes of intercepting them, and seeming to meet them by some strange fortuity.  Hope whispered he should be blessed with a smile; perhaps a word even.  So another minute and he was running up the road to Beaurepaire.  But his good heart was doomed to be diverted to a much humbler object than his idol; as he came near the fallen tree he heard loud cries for help, followed by groans of pain.  He bounded over the hedge, and there was Dard hanging over his axe, moaning.  “What is the matter? what is the matter?” cried Edouard, running to him.

“Oh! oh! cut my foot.  Oh!”

Edouard looked, and turned sick, for there was a gash right through Dard’s shoe, and the blood welling up through it.  But, recovering himself by an effort of the will, he cried out, “Courage, my lad! don’t give in.  Thank Heaven there’s no artery there.  Oh, dear, it is a terrible cut!  Let us get you home, that is the first thing.  Can you walk?”

“Lord bless you, no! nor stand neither without help.”

Edouard flew to the wheelbarrow, and, reversing it, spun a lot of billet out.  “Ye must not do that,” said Dard with all the energy he was capable of in his present condition.  “Why, that is Jacintha’s wood.”—­“To the devil with Jacintha and her wood too!” cried Edouard, “a man is worth more than a fagot.  Come, I shall wheel you home:  it is only just across the park.”

With some difficulty he lifted him into the barrow.  Luckily he had his shooting-jacket on with a brandy-flask in it:  he administered it with excellent effect.

The ladies, as they walked, saw a man wheeling a barrow across the park, and took no particular notice; but, as Riviere was making for the same point they were, though at another angle, presently the barrow came near enough for them to see Dard’s head and arms in it.  Rose was the first to notice this.  “Look! look! if he is not wheeling Dard in the barrow now.”

“Who?”

“Can you ask?  Who provides all our excitement?”

Josephine instantly divined there was something amiss.  “Consider,” said she, “Monsieur Riviere would not wheel Dard all across the park for amusement.”

Rose assented; and in another minute, by a strange caprice of fate, those Edouard had come to intercept, quickened their pace to intercept him.  As soon as he saw their intention he thrilled all over, but did not slacken his pace.  He told Dard to take his coat and throw it over his foot, for here were the young ladies coming.

“What for?” said Dard sulkily.  “No! let them see what they have done with their little odd jobs:  this is my last for one while.  I sha’n’t go on two legs again this year.”

The ladies came up with them.

“O monsieur!” said Josephine, “what is the matter?”

“We have met with a little accident, mademoiselle, that is all.  Dard has hurt his foot; nothing to speak of, but I thought he would be best at home.”