"Over there," I said, "not far from the--the door in the wall. It is
locked, and we were trying to climb over."
As I said this, the prelude to the inevitable confession, the misery and
shame of the whole position almost overwhelmed me, in spite of my
increasing anxiety about Moore's injuries. It was with great difficulty
that I suppressed a sob.
The last speaker, less startled and bewildered than the hermit-like
owner of the place, was naturally quicker to realise what I was feeling,
and I think he heard the catch in my voice, and was sorry for me. He
turned to the other.
"I will hurry on with this young lady, Mr Grey," he said, "and see what
can be done. Perhaps you--"
"Yes, yes," our host interrupted. "I'll--I had better--the others might
be startled, and--" I fancied I heard him mutter something about "the
servants."
"I will follow you immediately," he went on, and as he spoke he dived
back into the dim recesses of the gloomy hall and disappeared.
We--the younger man and I--hurried out. As we went, I felt that,
however badly hurt my brother was, I must say something. So I began--
"I--I am so terribly ashamed," I said. "We had no right to come into
the grounds at all. We are well punished. I--you see I got frightened
about Moore, my brother, and I followed him in, and then--the door had
been locked in the meantime, and--we thought we could climb over."
My companion assuredly _was_ very quick of apprehension. He glanced at
me, and I could feel that his eyes were kind, dark as it was.
"Try not to distress yourself," he said very gently. "I do not see that
you are the least to blame--rather the other way, indeed, for bravely
entering the ogre's den," he laughed a little, evidently taking for
granted that I was acquainted with the uncanny reputation of the place,
"for your brother's sake, and--"
Here I interrupted him. I think, I _hope_, that I am really candid by
nature. Unmerited praise is always painful and humiliating to me, as to
all honestly-inclined folk.
"Oh!" I exclaimed, "please don't say that. If you knew--"
Then _he_ interrupted. I think he was terrified of my beginning to cry!
"One thing I do know," he said, "and that is, what boys are, and the
inconceivable hobbles they get themselves and their belongings into.
Let us hope your brother is not badly hurt after all. Ah! there he is,"
for his quick eyes had discerned Moore's half-prostrate form even before
I had done more than peer about, knowing we must be near him.
"Moore," I exclaimed, "here we are. I--this gentleman will help us."
I spoke encouragingly. I was very sorry for him. I was answered by an
exclamation of relief.
"O Reggie," he said, with something like a smothered sob, "I am so
thankful. I thought you were never coming."
"Yes," said our new friend, who was already on his knees beside the boy,
"under such circumstances time does not fly. Let me see! which foot is
it? The left? Ah,"--for Moore must have winced even at his careful
touch--"yes; a good thing you got the boot off. I am not a doctor--"
(as to which fact I had had a slight doubt), "but I think it's not worse
than a sprain. Of course the thing is to get you home at once. You
live near here?"
"No," I began; "yes, I mean. We are staying at the Manor-house, Mr
Wynyard's, in the village."
He shook his head.
"I don't know the neighbourhood at all," he said. "I have only been
here two or three times, and only for a few hours together. Is the
village--oh yes, I remember--is the Manor-house on the way to the
church?"
"Yes," I replied, and I went on to explain, as well as I could,
whereabouts stood our temporary home. Then a sudden remembrance flashed
across me, and I exclaimed impulsively, "Was it not you whom I met a
week or two ago out there?" and I nodded towards the road, "You had lost
your pocket-book?"
"Exactly," he replied; "and you kindly looked for it. One good turn
deserves another. I wonder how I can best help you and your brother
just now. By-the-bye, my fly must be at the door by this time." He
peered at his watch. "I am--I was to catch the London express, if
possible."
"Oh don't," I began.
"It is not of enormous importance if I miss it," he said. "It's about
the fly."
"Reggie," whispered Moore, "stoop down a moment."