It would be difficult to say which felt or mutely expressed the most surprise, Miss Dormer or the stranger. They gazed at one another in amazement for a moment or two, and then the young man, lifting his cap with mechanical politeness, advanced.
By his military undress uniform, Blanche judged him to be one of the newly arrived officers, but how he had appeared as if from the solid walls, she could not conceive.
From the position of Miss Dormer, who stood partly in front of Lois, Captain Desfrayne could not see the fainting girl’s face, but his heart sorely misgave him as to her identity.
“Madam,” he said, looking at Blanche with surprise and compassion, “how is it that I find you in such a perilous position?”
Blanche, in a few words, explained. Then she turned again to her friend, and, kneeling before her, tried by every device to restore her to consciousness.
“Good heavens, Miss Turquand!” murmured Captain Desfrayne, under his breath.
Faint as his tones were, however, they caught the quick ear of Blanche Dormer.
“You know her, sir?” she exclaimed, looking up in his face.
“I can scarcely claim that privilege,” he replied, with icy coldness.
He stepped quickly to the door, plucked a large, strong leaf from the overhanging branches, which he twisted into a cup, and, filling it with water by descending the steps and dipping it in the lake, returned, and gave it to Blanche.