Mr. Yocomb laid his hand heavily on my shoulder, and asked, in a thick voice, "What does it all mean?"
I saw that he was deathly pale, and that he tottered. Taking his arm, I supported him to a lounge in the hall, and said, "Mr. Yocomb, you were taken ill. You must lie down quietly till the physician comes."
He seemed so confused and unable to think that he accepted my explanation. Indeed, he soon became so ill from the effects of the shock that he could not rise.
Again I knelt at Miss Warren's side, and began chafing her hands; but the cool wind and spray did the most to revive her. She opened her eyes, looked at me fixedly a few moments, and then tried to rise.
"Please keep quiet," I said, "till I bring you some brandy;" and I hastened to my room, tore open my valise, and was soon moistening her lips from a small flask. After swallowing a little she regained self-possession rapidly.
"What happened?" she asked.
"I fear you swooned."
She passed her hand over her brow, and looked around as if in search, of some one, then said, "Where is Mrs. Yocomb?"
"She is in her room with Zillah."
"Please let me go to her;" and she again essayed to rise.