That laugh, so well remembered, revealed your presence to me. My heart beat quickly and my head whirled dizzily, and in my bewilderment I took a step backward, quite forgetting the embrasure, till a stone gave way and I felt that I was falling. Then my consciousness went from me, and when thought came surging backward I lay a moment quiet, thinking it must have been a dream.
“He’s coming round all right,” I heard, and at the sound I opened my eyes. You were leaning over me with the moonlight shining on your face, and I caught my breath, you were so beautiful.
“You’ve given us a scare,” continued the man, on whose knee my head was resting. “You want to keep your wits about you better. Pretty poor business tumbling off walls, but that’s what comes of having ruins. You won’t be quite so cocky in the future about your run-out races.”
I felt his laughter justified, but hardly heeded it, my thoughts were so engaged. You were wetting my forehead with brandy, and I lay there too happy to speak.
“Now let me raise you a bit higher,” the man offered kindly, “so you can get your addled senses back.” He lifted me, and I groaned at the sudden terrible pain that shot up my leg.
“Hello!” he cried, laying me gently down. “Something wrong, after all? What is it?”
“My leg,” I moaned.
“Here, Maizie, hold his head, while I appoint an investigating committee,” he ordered, and in another moment I felt your arms about me, and in my joy at your touch I almost forgot my torture.
“Well, you’ve broken one of your walking-sticks,” the man informed me, after a gentler touching of it than I thought possible to his nature. “Now, Maizie, if you’ll sit and hold his head, I’ll get a litter. You won’t mind staying here alone, will you?”
“It is my wish,” you acceded calmly.