Carey came to again presently, and insisted on going back for the last hymn and the response after the closing prayer. Carey was a plucky one; and, though he was in pain, and looked white around his mouth, he slid into his seat up by the organ, and did his part with the rest. His hair had been combed and his face washed in the meantime, and Grace had found a thread and needle and put a few stitches in the torn garments, so that the damage was not apparent. Carey received the eager congratulations of the entire choir as they filed past him at the close of service. It was a proud moment for Cornelia, standing in her little niche at the head of the stairs, unable to get out till the crowd had passed. Every one stopped to tell her how proud she ought to be of her brother; and her cheeks were quite rosy and her eyes starry when she finally slipped away into the choir room to find Maxwell waiting for her, a tender solicitude in his face.
“He’s all right,” he hastened to explain. “Just a little faint from the loss of blood, but he certainly was plucky to sing that solo with his shoulder out of place. It must have taken a lot of nerve. We’ve got him fixed up, and he’ll soon be all right.”
Cornelia’s face went white in surprise.
“Was he hurt?” she asked. “Oh, I didn’t think there would be danger—not of that kind! It was so kind of you to go after him! It is probably all due to you that he got here at all.” She gave him a look which was worth a reward, but he shook his head, smiling wistfully.
“No, I can’t claim anything like that,” he said. “Carey didn’t even know I was there, doesn’t know it yet, in fact. He fought the whole thing out for himself, and took their car, and ran away. It’s that nervy little youngest brother of yours that’s the brave one. If it hadn’t been for Harry, I should have been a mere onlooker.”
“Well, I rather guess not!” drawled Harry, appearing suddenly from nobody knew where, with Louise standing excitedly behind him. “You just oughtta a seen Max fight! He certainly did give that driver guy his money’s worth.”
“Oh!” said Cornelia. “Let’s get home quick, and hear all about it. Where is Carey?”
Carey and Grace were coming down the steps together, and his sister came toward him eagerly.
“O Carey, you’re hurt!” she said tenderly. “I hadn’t thought—” she stopped suddenly with a half look at Grace.
Carey grinned.