"Excuse you! What?"
"It's very silly—been sick you know—over-exertion—think better faint and get it over with."
Langham knelt and lifted Herring's head.
"You lift his feet," he said to Phyllis, "send the blood to his heart; bring him to."
Herring began to come out of his faint.
"This young man," said Langham, "may be something of an ass, but he's got sand."
"He carried me a long way," said Phyllis, the tears racing down her cheeks; "and he's only just over typhoid, and he never stopped being cheerful and gallant, and he isn't an ass!"
Herring came to, but was not able to stand. He had kept up as long as he had to, and now there was no more strength in him.
Phyllis accepted the loan of Langham's coat.