Ralph laid down his burden very gently and tenderly close to the stream, with her head pillowed on a bank of moss. He was at his wits' end, but he thought it possible that some ice-cold water sprinkled on her face might revive her.
Jess stood stock-still a few yards away and watched the operation. Ralph sprinkled the cold water first on her face, then he got a large leaf, and made a cup of it, and tried to get her to drink; but the water trickled down her neck and into her bosom.
She gave a sigh at length and opened her eyes suddenly. Then she tried to raise her head, but it fell back again in a moment.
Ralph filled the leaf again and raised her head.
"Try to drink this," he said. "I'm sure it will do you good." And she opened her lips and drank.
He filled the leaf a third time, and she followed him with her eyes, but did not attempt to speak.
"Now, don't you feel better?" he questioned, after she had swallowed the second draught.
"I don't know," she answered, in a whisper. "But who are you? And where am I?"
"You have had an accident," he said. "Your horse threw you. Don't you remember?"
She closed her eyes and knitted her brows as if trying to recall what had happened.