My heart quite stopped beating, as a spent runner pauses, that he
may gather new strength to go on. With a sigh I fell back; but not
into the water and the dark.
"By God, you've pulled her through, Jelnik!" cried the voice of
Richard Geddes.
Came vague sounds, stirs, movements, hands upon me. Then oblivion
again.
I woke up one pleasant forenoon to find a brisk and capable young
woman in white sitting in my room, her head bent over the piece of
linen she was hemming. She was a healthy, handsome young woman, with
hard, firm cheeks, hard, firm lips, and professional eyes and
glasses. She glanced up and met my wan stare.
"What are you doing here, if you please?" I asked politely.
"I have been nursing you, Miss Smith. You have been quite ill, you
know."
I lay there looking at that self-contained, trained young woman,
with feelings of almost ludicrous astonishment. I remembered the
skidding car; and Richard Geddes lying with his head on Alicia's
knees, and how we had both thought him dead; and myself sitting in
the dust; and then the pain. But it was astounding news that I had
been very badly hurt full three weeks ago!
Alicia stole in and, seeing me awake, tried to smile, but cried
instead, with a wet cheek against my hand.
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