"Dear me, it is hot!" she exclaimed, pushing back her thick black hair from her forehead. "Never mind about my walk, mother; let me hear the news. What did Sir Henry Fraser say of Nora?"
Mrs. Bernard Temple sank into another chair.
"The dear child!" she exclaimed. "She had a trying morning."
"Pray don't talk of it!" exclaimed Nora from her sofa. "It was too desperate."
"Why, did he hurt you?" exclaimed Antonia.
"Oh, no! he was kindness itself; but we had to wait so long before we saw him."
"Pooh!" answered Antonia. "Was that the dreadful part? Tell me what he said when you did see him? Are you likely soon to be quite well again?"
"With care," interrupted Mrs. Bernard Temple, "dear Nora will recover perfectly. Her back is still very weak, but there is no injury. She may walk a little daily, but must lie down a good deal."
"You're quite sure he wasn't anxious about you?" asked Antonia, fixing her eyes on Nora.
Nora started.