"I could hardly walk," sobbed Celia, "my legs shook so!"
"Poor little girl," said Sir Jasper, laying his hand tenderly on her shoulder, his voice full of sympathy, "try not to cry any more; be a brave child. Tears never did any good yet. Here, Mrs. Mallock, I give her into your charge. Take her upstairs, and do, like a good soul, endeavour to be more cheerful yourself!"
Mrs. Mallock accordingly took Celia by the hand, and led her away. The housekeeper was crying, and when she tried to whisper that perhaps Joy was not so much injured as they all feared, she actually broke down and sobbed. She drew Celia hastily out of the room, and closed the door.
"I think I should like to go back to the Vicarage now, if you have no objection," Eric said, the moment he was alone with Sir Jasper. "I must find out what the doctor says about Joy, I expect he is there by this time." The boy was showing wonderful self-control considering that he was apprehensive that his favourite sister was seriously hurt. "She looked so deathly pale," he continued with an involuntary shudder, "and when the Vicar lifted her up in his arms her head fell back as though she was really dead."
"No doubt she was in a dead faint," Sir Jasper responded, trying to speak reassuringly, though he was shocked at the boy's words; "but I should like you to return at once, and ascertain exactly what the doctor thinks of her condition. And, Eric, should she really be much hurt—too hurt to be moved, for instance—remember that no expense is to be spared in obtaining everything she wants. But it may be that you will find her better. If people are faint, or stunned, they always look very ill."
Eric thanked his uncle and left him. On his way to the Vicarage he met a waggon bearing the shattered carriage and Celia's box to the Moat House; he hurried past it with a shudder, and arrived at his destination in a state of breathlessness. Lawrence Puttenham met him at the front door, and led him silently into the dining-room, looking very grave and sad.
"Well?" Eric questioned, anxiously.
"I went for the nearest doctor—Dr. Forbes —and fortunately found him at home," Putty explained; "he cycled back with me immediately, and he's upstairs now."
"Then you don't know what he thinks of Joy."
"Yes. He came down and told Mr. Cole, and went upstairs again. He said he feared she was seriously hurt, and that if she recovered she would be ill a long time, and would want careful nursing."