She seemed to give up her intention of speaking. She pulled off a glove and knelt down in the gravel. She put out one hand, and gently turned the head so that the face was a little more visible. She shuddered as she did so. The vertical sun struck on a diamond on her hand, and made it send out sharp rays of light.
With a swift motion the girl turned the stone inward. Then she shuddered again. She rose.
"I'll go on to the first house," she said, "and get help."
"No, I'll go," exclaimed Leander, quickly, and in an unsteady voice.
"I can go in much less time than you could do the distance. You don't know how fast I can ride. It's almost three miles to the next house. Are you afraid to stay here and wait?"
The boy trembled and hesitated. Then he was ashamed to say he was afraid.
"I'll wait here," he said, huskily.
Prudence sprang on her wheel and started off. Leander watched her. For an instant he forgot everything else in admiration as he saw her whiz out of sight.
"By George!" he said to himself.
Then he looked back at that still figure. He braced himself up. He remembered that he was a boy instead of a girl.