Meanwhile Valmai and the doctor were walking rapidly down the lane to the shore.
"Dan, will you take us across?" said Valmai to a man who stood leaning against the corner of the Ship Inn.
"With every pleasure, miss fâch; you've been out early," he said, as he pushed out his boat, and, seeing the doctor—"if you please, miss, I hope there's nobody ill at Nance's?"
"Yes," said Valmai, hesitating, "the little one is ill."
She did not say, "my baby," as she had done at the doctor's. At the first contact with the world beyond Ynysoer, where she had been so long secluded and sheltered, a feeling of nervous shyness began to over-shadow her.
"Dear, dear!" was all Dan's answer,
Once on the island, Mr. Francis found it difficult to keep up with Valmai's hurrying steps. He was full of pity for the beautiful girl beside him, so young and so friendless, and was anxious to serve her, and to cure her child if possible.
As they entered the cottage together, Nance endeavoured gently to prevent Valmai's approaching the child.
"Not you, my dear, not you; let the doctor see him."
Mr. Francis was already attending to the little sufferer.