‘How what happened?’
‘I have hurt myself. There now; don’t be alarmed—it is nothing. You see I am here; and I don’t want to spoil the evening by letting our friends know it. Look at the girls; they would go into fits if things didn’t come off just as they planned them.’
‘How did you do it?’ she asked calmly.
‘That mare Wrentham bought from Uncle Dick tumbled over me; that’s all. I’ll be as well as ever, when I’ve had a little rest.’
‘Have you seen a doctor?’
‘Not yet. The fact is, I was taking a nap at Wrentham’s, to brace me up for the evening.’
‘You mean that you were insensible?’
‘Perhaps that was it. But don’t think about it. Have some wine?’
When the ladies were retiring, Philip opened the door for them; but that was the last effort his strength allowed him to make. He felt giddy and faint.
‘Help me up-stairs,’ was all he could say to Dr Joy, who was at his side.