o catch at the branch
of a tree near them. She threw her arms round him. With all her little
strength she tried to hold him up. Her utmost effort only availed to
drag him to the grass plot by their side, and to soften his fall. Even
as the cry for help passed her lips, she saw help coming. A tall man was
approaching her--not running, even when he saw what had happened; only
stalking with long strides. He was followed by one of the keepers of the
gardens. Doctor Benjulia had his sick monkey to take care of. He kept
the creature sheltered under his long frock-coat.

"Don't do that, if you please," was all the doctor said, as Carmina
tried to lift Ovid's head from the grass. He spoke with his customary
composure, and laid his hand on the heart of the fainting man, as coolly
as if it had been the heart of a stranger. "Which of you two can run the
fastest?" he asked, looking backwards and forwards between Carmina and
the keeper. "I want some brandy."

The refreshment room was within sight. Before the keeper quite
understood what was required of him, Carmina was speeding over the grass
like Atalanta herself.

Benjulia looked after her, with his usual grave attention. "That wench
can run," he said to himself, and turned once more to Ovid. "In his
state of health, he's been fool enough to over-exert himself." So he
disposed of the case in his own mind. Having done that, he remembered
the monkey, deposited for the time being on the grass. "Too cold for
him," he remarked, with more appearance of interest than he had shown
yet. "Here, keeper! Pick up the monkey till I'm ready to take him
again." The man hesitated.

"He might bite me, sir."

"Pick him up!" the doctor reiterated; "he can't bite anybody, after
what I've done to him." The monkey was indeed in a state of stupor.
The keeper obeyed his instructions, looking half stupefied himself: he
seemed to be even more afraid of the doctor than of the monkey. "Do you
think I'm the Devil?" Benjulia asked with dismal irony. The man looked
as if he would say "Yes," if he dared.

Carmina came running back with the brandy. The doctor smelt it first,
and then took notice of her. "Out of breath?" he said.

"Why don't you give him the brandy?" she answered impatiently.

"Strong lungs," Benjulia proceeded, sitting down cross-legged by Ovid,
and administering the stimulant without hurrying himself. "Some girls
would not have been able to speak, after such a run as you have had. I
did