IN MOTHER'S ROOM.
THE village was six miles off, so that even Van Alstine & Overbeck's best trotter, with his master driving him, could not bring the doctor immediately.
Meantime, Marion was undressed and laid in her mother's bed. She was much bruised and lacerated, one great scratch just missing her left eye, and suffered acutely from every movement, and her father pronounced at once that her collar-bone was broken. She was very patient, keeping herself as quiet as possible, and only anxious that nobody should blame Bram.
Mrs. Van Alstine was quiet and collected, doing everything in the best manner, and assisted as well as possible by Mrs. Andrews and Amity. Mr. Van Alstine's strong and gentle arms held Marion while her bed was arranged, and his deep, grave voice reassured and soothed her. He had just laid her down, when Frank put in his head and called him out into the parlour.
Bram lay on the sofa with his head buried in his arms, and Gerty was talking to him. She had been dismissed from Marion's room at a very early stage of the proceedings, ostensibly that she need not injure herself or bring on one of her bad attacks, and by way of making things pleasant was expressing her opinion of the whole transaction.
"Anybody might have known how it would turn out, sending such a party of young people off on such an expedition with no older person along. Pray where was Henry?"
"He stayed behind to sit up at Clarke's," answered Frank, in the measured tones which showed that his temper was near the boiling-point.
"What did he do that for?" asked Gerty, in the same judicial tone as if she were examining a witness.
"Because he chose to, I suppose."
"Well, really, Frank, I think you might at least answer civilly. I don't see what call you have to be so angry, when I only asked for information."