At this moment three or four of the party came round a huge rock which had hidden them from sight, and evidently noticed the two standing by the bridge.
"You need not try to frighten me, Dr. James; my nerves are not easily shaken. Come, shall I go first?"
"If you please. Your stick may be a sort of balance-pole; imagine yourself on the tight-rope, and look steadily at that little tree before you; don't look down. I am in earnest, Miss Lester."
Margaret looked at him, laughed, and stepped on the little bridge. The people who were looking at them were frightened, and the girls turned away their faces. Margaret made three steady steps, then paused.
"Do you see what a lovely green that water is, just below us?"
Two steps more and her stick dropped, she staggered, and put her hands to her head.
"I am falling!"
But she felt a strong hand on each of her shoulders, and a voice of command said,
"Fix your eyes on that tree, and walk straight on." She obeyed, and three more steps brought her to firm ground. Instantly, almost before her feet touched the bank, the doctor withdrew his hands, and without a word, with a displeased and gloomy face, preceded her down the bank. He was saying to himself,
"Now we shall have a scene, and she will say she owes her life to me, and call me her preserver, or some such nonsense."