ness of demeanour that was
characteristic of him. "Take your time," he said. "It was a nasty
knock-out."

"I--I'm all right," she told him breathlessly. "Where--where is Hector?"

"If you mean your animal," he said in the slow, grim way which she
began to remember as his, "he is probably well on his way home by now.
He'll be all right," he added. "The gate from this field into the road
is open."

"Oh!" The faintness was overcoming her again as she tried to stand. She
clutched and held his arm. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "I--never felt so
stupid before."

"Don't be in a hurry!" he said. "You can't help it."

She sank back against his support again and so remained for a few
seconds. He stood like a rock till she opened her eyes once more.

She found his own upon her, but he dropped them instantly. "You are not
hurt anywhere, are you?" he said.

She shook her head. "No, it's nothing. I've wrenched my shoulder a
little, but it isn't much."

"Which shoulder?"

"The right. No, really it isn't serious." She winced as he touched it
with his hand nevertheless.

"Sure?" he said.

He began to feel it very carefully, and she winced again with indrawn
breath.

"It's only bruised," she said.

"It's painful, anyhow," he remarked bluntly. "Well, you must be wet to
the skin. You had better come with me to the mill and get dry."

Doris flushed a little. "Oh, thank you, but really--I don't want to--to
trespass on your kindness. I can quite well walk home--from here."

"You can't," he said flatly. "Anyhow, you are not going to try. You had
better let me carry you."

But Doris drew back at that with swift decision. "Oh no! I am quite well
now--I can walk."

She stood up and he took his foot from the gate. She glanced at the top
bar thereof that hung in splinters.

"I'm so sorry," she murmured apologetically.

He also looked at his damaged property. "Yes, it was a pity you
attempted it," he said.

"I shall know better next time," she said with a wry smile. "Will it
cost much?"

"Well, it can't be mended for nothing," said Jeff Ironside. "Things
never are."

Doris considered him for a moment. He was certainly a fine animal, as
Hugh Chesyl had said, well made and well put together. She liked the
freedom of his pose, the strength of the great bull neck. At close
quarters he certainly did not look like an ordinary labourer. He had an
air of command that his rough clothes could not hide. There was nothing
of the c