"Ah, love! is it you?" he murmured faintly, and with a smile. "Where am
I? What has happened?"
"O Ned! dear, dear Ned! I thought you were killed!" she sobbed, covering his face with kisses and tears.
"There has been an accident, and you got a blow that stunned you," answered the doctor; "but I think you are all right now, or will be soon."
"An accident!" Edward repeated, with a bewildered look, and putting his hand to his head. "What was it?"
"A collision on the railroad," Arthur said. "There is an ambulance here: I think I will put you in it, and have you taken home at once. 'Tis only a few miles, and not a rough road."
"Yes, yes: home is much the best place," he sighed, again putting his hand to his head.
"Are you in pain?" asked Arthur.
"Not much, but I feel strangely confused. I should like to be taken home as soon as possible. But not to the neglect of any one who may have been more seriously hurt than I," he added, feebly raising his head to look about him.
"There are none such," Arthur answered. "You perhaps remember that the cars were nearly empty of passengers: no lives were lost and no one, I think, worse hurt than yourself."
"And I?" returned Edward, in a tone of inquiry.