“You’re nothing of the sort! I’ve never seen anybody as brave as you are.�
A tremor ran over his body. At first she thought it was a convulsive movement of pain, but when it continued she was overcome by the astounding conviction that he was laughing. Astonishment gave place to outraged indignation. There was no mistaking the fact that he was really shaking with laughter that he sought in vain to suppress. She leaped up, letting him drop back, and stood rigid, filled with intense resentment.
“You—you’re making sport of me!â€� she said, in a low voice that suddenly had in it something like icy brittleness. “You’ve been playing on my sympathy! You’re not really hurt—much. It was a very ungentlemanly thing to do! I hope you have enjoyed yourself!â€�
He sat up without much effort. “I give you my word of honor that I didn’t mean to laugh at you. Perhaps my head is affected a little. This crack on the bean must be the cause. It really was some bump.�
“You—you wretch!â€� she cried, stamping her foot. “I hate you!â€�
Her little hands were tightly clenched. She turned away to hide the tears which welled again into her eyes; but now they were tears of exasperation, shame, and rage.
He got quickly to his feet. “Please, Bessie!â€� he said. “You don’t understand. Not for the world would I——â€�
He stopped short, staring across at the road, down which a touring car containing two men was speeding toward the village.
“Great Caesar!� he cried. “There goes the governor! Hitchens must have got the engine running somehow. They’ll expect to find me in town.� With all the strength of a good pair of lungs, he shouted, waving his hands above his head. The automobile sped on. Its occupants neither saw nor heard him.
“I guess I’m left for the time being,� he said. “They’ll go ripping straight through to catch that train at Albion.�