Quickly the news of Hugh's safety was conveyed to Gwladys.
"He's alive, Mishtress! Ivor and Mari have brought him out!"
But she did not hear them. At the words, "He's alive," the reaction from the terrible fear that had paralysed her was so great that she fainted, and in this condition was carried home.
A stretcher had been quickly improvised from an old sail, and Hugh, gently laid upon it, was also carried home by loving hands, and laid tenderly upon his own bed, Mari Vone refusing to allow anyone but Ivor and herself to lift him from the sail to the bed. He moaned once or twice during the removal, and afterwards lay still and motionless, with closed eyes.
Dr. Hughes, who, together with all the inhabitants of Abersethin, had seen the fire at Mwntseison, was quickly on the spot, and attending to Hugh Morgan, while Gwladys, white and rigid, tottered in like a ghost and flung herself down at the bedside in an abandonment of grief. The sound of her sobs reached Hugh's ears, and, opening his eyes, he tried to speak, but failed in the attempt.
"Not yet," said Dr. Hughes; "lie quite still until you are stronger. Now take this—and you, Gwladys, be quite silent if you wish to save your husband's life."
Gwladys smothered her sobs, and, sitting still and shivering beside her husband, said, in piteous accents:
"Don't send me from him! let me stay and do something."
"You can do nothing but be calm and quiet."
"I will," she said; and she kept her word.