“But that is the surprise; the tumult in your body, something surging up and doing things without thinking.”
“Instinctive nervous reaction.”
“But there is something else. In the moment you are sure you are going to be killed, death changes. You wait, for the moment after.”
“That is an illusion, the strength of life in you that cannot, midst good health, accept death. But tell me; your arm was certainly broken?” His gently breathed question took away the sting of his statement.
“No. The wheel went over it just above the bend of the elbow. I did not feel it, and got up feeling only a little dizzy just for a moment and horribly annoyed at the crowd round me. But the two men who were riding with me told me afterwards that my face was grey and my eyes quite black.”
“That was shock.” He rose and stood facing her, in shadow; dark and frock-coated, like a doctor.
“Yes; but I mean it shows that things look worse than they are.”
“That is most certainly a deduction that might be drawn. Nevertheless you suffered a most formidable shock.”
She moved towards the gas looking decisively up at it; and felt herself standing unexpressed, under the wide arch of all they had said. He must be told to remember to put out the gas before he went. That said, there was nothing in the world but a reluctant departure.