"But he does not think that she will not recover, does he?"
"He—he did not say that. Oh, Wallis, don't look so cut up! Perhaps she may get well after all."
Eric groaned, and sinking into a chair covered his face with his trembling hands. Presently he looked up, and inquired:
"How is she hurt?"
"Her head—she has concussion of the brain, and there are other injuries besides—internal injuries."
"Then, Putty, she will die! I feel certain of it!" Eric cried, in an agony of grief.
"No, no! You cannot tell that. I hope and pray God will spare her life. Mr. Cole has sent one of the servants to Home Vale to ask Miss Pring, or her niece, to come and help your mother with the nursing to-night—I expect it will be Miss Mary, for I've heard in the village that she's a capital nurse. Don't give way, Wallis. You must bear up, for your mother's sake."
"Where is Mr. Cole?" Eric asked, after a brief silence.
"Gone to T— to fetch ice. He went himself so that there should be no delay in getting it."
A very short while later Miss Mary Pring arrived, looking pale and startled, but perfectly composed. After hearing what the boys had to say, she went quickly upstairs, and a few minutes later the doctor came down, and went into the dining-room.