Upon that he turned round.
'Then we must get her home, that she may change her wet things as soon as possible. Do you feel as though you can move?' he continued, in his ordinary manner, though perhaps it was a trifle grave. 'You are terribly bruised, I fear, but I trust not otherwise injured.'
She looked up a little surprised at the calmness of his tone, and then involuntarily she stretched out her hands to him—
'Let me thank you first—you have saved my life,' she whispered.
'No,' he returned, quietly. 'It is true your disobedience placed us both in jeopardy; but it was your obedience at the last that really saved your life. If you had fainted, you must inevitably have been lost. I could not have supported you much longer in my cramped position.'
'Your arm—did I hurt it?' she asked, anxiously, noticing an expression of pain pass over his face.
'I daresay I have strained it slightly,' he answered, indifferently; 'but it does not matter. The question is, do you think you can bear to be moved?'
'Oh, I can walk. I am better now,' she replied, colouring slightly.
His coolness disappointed her; she was longing to thank him with the full fervour of a grateful heart. It was sweet, it was good in spite of everything to receive her life back through his hands. Never—never would she dare to repine again, or murmur at the lot Providence had appointed her; so much had the dark lesson of Coop Kernan Hole taught her.
'Well, what is it?' he asked, reading but too truly the varying expressions of her eloquent face.