"Be
careful!" she said. "Look where you're driving! There's a ditch on that
side. Look--"

George turned too late; the cutter's right runner went into the ditch
and snapped off; the little sleigh upset, and, after dragging its
occupants some fifteen yards, left them lying together in a bank
of snow. Then the vigorous young horse kicked himself free of all
annoyances, and disappeared down the road, galloping cheerfully.

Chapter VIII

When George regained some measure of his presence of mind, Miss Lucy
Morgan's cheek, snowy and cold, was pressing his nose slightly to one
side; his right arm was firmly about her neck; and a monstrous amount
of her fur boa seemed to mingle with an equally unplausible quantity of
snow in his mouth. He was confused, but conscious of no objection to any
of these juxtapositions. She was apparently uninjured, for she sat up,
hatless, her hair down, and said mildly:

"Good heavens!"

Though her father had been under his machine when they passed, he
was the first to reach them. He threw himself on his knees beside his
daughter, but found her already laughing, and was reassured. "They're
all right," he called to Isabel, who was running toward them, ahead of
her brother and Fanny Minafer. "This snowbank's a feather bed--nothing
the matter with them at all. Don't look so pale!"

"Georgie!" she gasped. "Georgie!"

Georgie was on his feet, snow all over him.

"Don't make a fuss, mother! Nothing's the matter. That darned silly
horse--"

Sudden tears stood in Isabel's eyes. "To see you down
underneath--dragging--oh--" Then with shaking hands she began to brush
the snow from him.

"Let me alone," he protested. "You'll ruin your gloves. You're getting
snow all over you, and--"

"No, no!" she cried. "You'll catch cold; you mustn't catch cold!" And
she continued to brush him.

Amberson had brought Lucy's hat; Miss Fanny acted as lady's-maid; and
both victims of the accident were presently restored to about their
usual appearance and condition of apparel. In fact, encouraged by the
two older gentlemen, the entire party, with one exception, decided that
the episode was after all a merry one, and began to laugh about it. But
George was glummer than the December twilight now swiftly closing in.

"That darned horse!" he said.

"I wouldn't bother about Pendennis, Georgie," said his uncle. "You can
send a man out for what's left of the cutter tomorrow, and Pendennis
will gallop straig