"Our sled struck you and knocked you down," answered Nan. "We did our best to steer out of the way, but we couldn't. I hope you are not much hurt."
A spasm of fear came into the face, which they could see was that of a woman about sixty years old.
"Oh, yes, I remember now," she said weakly. "I thought surely I was going to be killed. It all happened so sudden like."
She struggled into a sitting position, and the girls supported her head and shoulders.
"Tell us where you live," said Nan, "and we will take you home and send for a doctor. Or perhaps we had better take you right up to the school on top of the hill and take care of you there."
"Oh, I wouldn't want to give you young ladies so much trouble," answered the woman.
"Trouble, indeed!" protested Nan. "It's you that have had all the trouble, and there's nothing we can do for you that will make up for it."
"Do tell us where you live," urged Bess. "You ought to be in bed just as soon as you can. You'll catch your death out here in the snow."
"I live down on the Milltown road," the woman replied, "but I think I can get there without bothering you. Just help me up and you'll find that I'm able to walk all right."