"Not so bad, really."
"You little sportsman," said Barry, softly and stooping, he kissed her pale cheek.
Then he stood up and spoke to Nan.
"I'm going to fetch a doctor if there's one in Talland. Kay must ride back and fetch the Polperro doctor, in case there isn't. In any case I shall bring up help and a stretcher from Talland and have her taken down."
He picked up his bicycle and stood for a moment looking down at the face on Nan's knee.
"You'll look after her," he said, quickly, and got on the bicycle and dashed down the path, showing that he too could do that fool's trick if it served any good purpose.
Gerda, watching him, caught her breath and forgot pain in fear until, swerving round the next bend, he was out of sight.
9
Nan sat very still by the path, staring over the sea, shading Gerda's head from the sun. There was nothing more to be done than that; there was no water, even, to bathe the cut with.
"Nan."