"Yes, yes; I am glad you have called," Sir John said, walking to the mantelpiece and leaning his elbow on it.
"I hope she is better?" Ralph went on. "You think she will recover?"
"I am sorry to say she is very seriously injured," Sir John answered slowly; "but, naturally, we hope for the best."
Ralph dropped his eyes to the floor, and for a moment was silent.
"Dr. Barrow tells me that you were near the spot at the time of the accident," Sir John went on; "for that reason I am glad you have called."
"There isn't much to tell," Ralph answered, without raising his eyes, "but I am anxious to tell what there is."
"Ah!" Sir John gasped, glancing across at his visitor suspiciously.
"After what has happened, you can't blame me more than I blame myself," Ralph went on; "though, of course, I never imagined for a moment that she would attempt to leap the gate."
"I don't quite understand," Sir John said stiffly.
"Well, it was this way. I was leaning on the stile leading down into Dingley Bottom, when someone rode up and ordered me to open the gate leading into Treliskey Plantation. If the lady had asked me to open the gate I should have done it in a minute."