‘Am I badly hurt? What are these women coming crowding round me for? I do not want the maids here. Drive them back, Barbara.’
Barbara made a sign to the cook and house and kitchen maids to stand back.
‘You must be moved to your room, papa.’
‘Am I dying, Barbara?’
‘I hope and trust not, dear.’
‘I cannot die without speaking; but I will not speak till I am on the point of death.’
‘Do not speak, father, at all now.’
He obeyed and remained quiet, with his eyes looking up at the sky. Thus he lay till Jasper arrived breathless. He had heard the bell, and had run, suspecting some disaster.
‘Let me carry him, with one of the maids,’ said Jasper.
‘No,’ answered Barbara. ‘You shall take his shoulders, I his feet. We will carry him on a mattress. Cook and Jane have brought one. Help me to raise him on to it.’