"No; a little while ago."
"But how did you come so far, my poor child?"
"Oh, I managed," she said.
"Indeed. I shall carry you."
"If thou wilt, please. I am in much pain."
He took off his skates, and with easy strength walked away over the ice, the girl in his arms, so that before long she was at home and in her mother's care, to be at rest for some days.
"Come in, René," said Schmidt, as later they settled themselves for the usual smoke and chat. The German said presently: "It was not a very bad sprain. Did you carry her, René?"
"I—"
"Yes. Do you think, man, that I cannot see!"
"Yes, I carried her. What else could I do?"