hand as if it had become red hot,
she said sharply, "What are you talking about?"

"I don't know," he said, resuming his indifferent manner with a laugh.
"Are you better? Let me drive you to the Beeches. My stable is within a
stone's throw; I can get a trap out in ten minutes."

"No, thank you," said Gertrude haughtily. "I do not wish to drive." She
paused, and added in some bewilderment, "What has happened?"

"You fainted, and--"

"I did not faint," said Gertrude indignantly. "I never fainted in my
life."

"Yes, you did."

"Pardon me, Mr. Trefusis. I did not."

"You shall judge for yourself. I was coming through this field when
I saw you gathering hemlock. Hemlock is interesting on account of
Socrates, and you were interesting as a young lady gathering poison. So
I stopped to look on. Presently you came out from among the bushes as if
you had seen a snake there. Then you fell into my arms--which led me
to suppose that you had fainted--and Max, concluding that it was all my
fault, nearly sprang at my throat. You were overpowered by the scent of
the water-hemlock, which you must have been inhaling for ten minutes or
more."

"I did not know that there was any danger," said Gertrude, crestfallen.
"I felt very tired when I came to. That was why I lay so long the second
time. I really could not help it."

"You did not lie very long."

"Not when I first fell; that was only a few seconds, I know. But I must
have lain there nearly ten minutes after I recovered."

"You were nearly a minute insensible when you first fell, and when you
recovered you only rested for about one second. After that you raved,
and I invented suitable answers until you suddenly asked me what I was
talking about."

Gertrude reddened a little as the possibility of her having raved
indiscreetly occurred to her. "It was very silly of me to faint," she
said.

"You could not help it; you are only human. I shall walk with you to the
Beeches."

"Thank you; I will not trouble you," she said quickly.

He shook his head. "I do not know how long the effect of that abominable
water-weed may last," he said, "and I dare not leave you to walk alone.
If you prefer it I can send you in a trap with my gardener, but I had
rather accompany you myself."

"You are giving yourself a great deal of unnecessary trouble. I will
walk. I am quite well again and need no assistance."

They started without another word. Gertrude had to concentrate all her
energy