“Miss Hamblyn hurt? Oh, I am sorry. Yes, gentlemen, I’ll come at once,” said Mrs. Trip, coming out of her corner, trembling still, but somewhat more easy in her mind concerning these unknown visitors, who looked so rough and fierce.
“Catch hold of my arm, mother; you’ll get along quicker so,” said Jim, crooking his elbow with great politeness.
“Why, you are quite kind, and I thought you were both robbers!” exclaimed the old woman, in tremulous tones.
“I don’t wonder at that, for I expect we do look a bit rough; but you should see us when we are dressed up in our Sunday clothes, biled shirts and all that sort of thing,” said Jim, in friendly fashion, as he escorted the old woman across the open space to the telegraph office.
“I can’t hear what you say, except when you turn your face to me,” she said querulously.
So he held his head round towards her, and repeated his words in order that she might gather the sense of what he was saying. When the door of the office was reached, he just opened it and pushed her in.
“Oh, my dear Miss Hamblyn, what is the matter? Can’t you get up? Did the robbers hurt you?” cried Mrs. Trip, in great distress, crouching down by Nell, and trying to take her hand.
But this the doctor was quick to prevent, for it was Nell’s broken right wrist which Mrs. Trip had been about to touch.
“Can’t you see that the poor girl is hurt, that she can’t talk, and is in dreadful pain?” said the doctor, sharply.
“I’m a little hard of hearing, sir,” rejoined Mrs. Trip, meekly.