Alcestis came to his senses in ten or fifteen minutes, and seemed as bright as usual, with a kind of added swagger at being the central figure in a dramatic situation.
“I wonder you hed n't stove your brains out, when you landed so turrible suddent on that rock at the foot of the bank,” said Mr. Wiley to him.
“I should, but I took good care to light on my head,” responded Alcestis; a cryptic remark which so puzzled Old Kennebec that he mused over it for some hours.
VI. Hearts And Other Hearts
Stephen had brought a change of clothes, as he had a habit of being ducked once at least during the day; and since there was a halt in the proceedings and no need of his services for an hour or two, he found Rose and walked with her to a secluded spot where they could watch the logs and not be seen by the people.
“You frightened everybody almost to death, jumping into the river,” chided Rose.
Stephen laughed. “They thought I was a fool to save a fool, I suppose.”
“Perhaps not as bad as that, but it did seem reckless.”
“I know; and the boy, no doubt, would be better off dead; but so should I be, if I could have let him die.”