y groans of pain. He bounded over the
hedge, and there was Dard hanging over his axe, moaning. "What is the
matter? what is the matter?" cried Edouard, running to him.

"Oh! oh! cut my foot. Oh!"

Edouard looked, and turned sick, for there was a gash right through
Dard's shoe, and the blood welling up through it. But, recovering
himself by an effort of the will, he cried out, "Courage, my lad!
don't give in. Thank Heaven there's no artery there. Oh, dear, it is
a terrible cut! Let us get you home, that is the first thing. Can you
walk?"

"Lord bless you, no! nor stand neither without help."

Edouard flew to the wheelbarrow, and, reversing it, spun a lot of billet
out. "Ye must not do that," said Dard with all the energy he was capable
of in his present condition. "Why, that is Jacintha's wood."--"To the
devil with Jacintha and her wood too!" cried Edouard, "a man is worth
more than a fagot. Come, I shall wheel you home: it is only just across
the park."

With some difficulty he lifted him into the barrow. Luckily he had his
shooting-jacket on with a brandy-flask in it: he administered it with
excellent effect.

The ladies, as they walked, saw a man wheeling a barrow across the park,
and took no particular notice; but, as Riviere was making for the same
point they were, though at another angle, presently the barrow came near
enough for them to see Dard's head and arms in it. Rose was the first to
notice this. "Look! look! if he is not wheeling Dard in the barrow now."

"Who?"

"Can you ask? Who provides all our excitement?"

Josephine instantly divined there was something amiss. "Consider," said
she, "Monsieur Riviere would not wheel Dard all across the park for
amusement."

Rose assented; and in another minute, by a strange caprice of fate,
those Edouard had come to intercept, quickened their pace to intercept
him. As soon as he saw their intention he thrilled all over, but did not
slacken his pace. He told Dard to take his coat and throw it over his
foot, for here were the young ladies coming.

"What for?" said Dard sulkily. "No! let them see what they have done
with their little odd jobs: this is my last for one while. I sha'n't go
on two legs again this year."

The ladies came up with them.

"O monsieur!" said Josephine, "what is the matter?"

"We have met with a little accident, mademoiselle, that is all. Dard has
hurt his foot; nothing to speak of, but I thought he would be best at
home."

Rose