"Oh, my darling!" cried the faithful woman. "What has happened?"
"I fell off the ladder, Nanny," Una responded faintly, her lips quivering with pain, "and I have hurt my foot!"
Nanny lifted the child in her strong arms and forthwith carried her into the house, followed by Mrs. Maple, and placed her on the settle in the kitchen whilst she proceeded to draw off the boot and stocking from the injured limb. The foot was already beginning to swell, and Nanny's face was full of concern as she examined it, and poor Una winced at every touch.
"It is a bad sprain, I fear," Mrs. Maple said. "She cannot possibly walk home!"
"And she is too heavy for me to carry!" Nanny exclaimed. "What is to be done?"
"Why, she must stay here with us," Mrs. Maple answered promptly. "We will do the best we can for her!"
"Oh no, no!" Una cried; then, fearing she appeared rude and ungrateful, she looked appealingly at Mrs. Maple and exclaimed: "I would so much rather go home, please, because father would be so lonely without me. If Nanny would go and tell him that I have hurt my foot, and cannot walk, he would come and carry me back."
"Yes, I think that would be the best plan," Nanny agreed. "Is the pain very bad, dearie?"
Una nodded. Her eyes were full of tears, but she bravely tried not to cry, and to smile cheerfully.
"I will start at once," Nanny continued. "Keep up your spirits, Miss Una, I shall not be long!"