oken by Ben in a voice half choked with emotion,
"Hit's Marse Ed'ard's wife, gen'lemen."

It was Edward lying there motionless, and with a face like that of a
corpse.

With an agonized cry, Zoe dropped on her knees at his side, and pressed
her lips passionately to his.

There was no response, no movement, not the quiver of an eyelid; and
she lifted her grief-stricken face to that of the doctor, with a look of
anguished inquiry in the beautiful eyes fit to move a heart of stone.

"I do not despair of him yet, dear cousin Zoe," Arthur said in a low,
moved tone. "I lave found no external injury, and it may be that he is
only stunned."

The words had scarcely left his lips when Edward drew a sighing breath,
and opened his eyes, glancing up into Zoe's face bending over Mm in
deepest, tenderest solicitude.

"Ah, love! is it you?" he murmured faintly, and with a smile. "Where am
I? What has happened?"

"O Ned! dear, _dear_ Ned! I thought you were killed!" she sobbed,
covering his face with kisses and tears.

"There has been an accident, and you got a blow that stunned you,"
answered the doctor; "but I think you are all right now, or will be
soon."

"An accident!" Edward repeated, with a bewildered look, and putting his
hand to his head. "What was it?"

"A collision on the railroad," Arthur said. "There is an ambulance here:
I think I will put you in it, and have you taken home at once. 'Tis only
a few miles, and not a rough road."

"Yes, yes: home is much the best place," he sighed, again putting his
hand to his head.

"Are you in pain?" asked Arthur.

"Not much, but I feel strangely confused. I should like to be taken home
as soon as possible. But not to the neglect of any one who may have been
more seriously hurt than I," he added, feebly raising his head to look
about him.

"There are none such," Arthur answered. "You perhaps remember that the
cars were nearly empty of passengers: no lives were lost and no one, I
think, worse hurt than yourself."

"And I?" returned Edward, in a tone of inquiry.

"Have escaped without any broken bones, and I trust will be all right in
a few days."

"O Ned! how glad I am it is no worse!" sobbed Zoe, clinging to his hand,
while the tears rolled fast down her cheeks.

"Yes, little wife," he said, gazing lovingly into her eyes.

"There, I positively forbid any more talking," said Arthur, with a
mixture of authority and playfulness. "Here is the ambulance. Help me to
li