uggling to withdraw the hand which he held. "Here is
Aunt Julia. You had better just move." Not that she would have cared
a straw for the eyes of Aunt Julia, had it not been that the image
of Daniel Thwaite again rose strong before her mind. Then Aunt Julia,
and the curate, and Minnie were standing on the rock within a few
paces of them, but on the other side of the stream.

"Is there anything the matter?" asked Miss Lovel.

"She has sprained her ankle in jumping over the Stryd, and she cannot
walk. Perhaps Mr. Cross would not mind going back to the inn and
getting a carriage. The road is only a quarter of a mile above us,
and we could carry her up."

"How could you be so foolish, Frederic, as to let her jump it?" said
the aunt.

"Don't mind about my folly now. The thing is to get a carriage for
Anna." The curate immediately hurried back, jumping over the Stryd as
the nearest way to the inn; and Minnie also sprung across the stream
so that she might sit down beside her cousin and offer consolation.
Aunt Julia was left alone, and after a while was forced to walk back
by herself to the bridge.

"Is she much hurt?" asked Minnie.

"I am afraid she is hurt," said the lord.

"Dear, dear Minnie, it does not signify a bit," said Anna, lavishing
on her younger cousin the caresses which fate forbade her to give to
the elder. "I know I could walk home in a few minutes. I am better
now. It is one of those things which go away almost immediately. I'll
try and stand, Frederic, if you'll let me." Then she raised herself,
leaning upon him, and declared that she was nearly well,--and then
was reseated, still leaning on him.

"Shall we attempt to get her up to the road, Minnie, or wait till Mr.
Cross comes to help us?" Lady Anna declared that she did not want any
help,--certainly not Mr. Cross's help, and that she could do very
well, just with Minnie's arm. They waited there sitting on the rocks
for half an hour, saying but little to each other, throwing into the
stream the dry bits of stick which the last flood had left upon the
stones, and each thinking how pleasant it was to sit there and dream,
listening to the running waters. Then Lady Anna hobbled up to the
carriage road, helped by a stronger arm than that of her cousin
Minnie.

Of course there was some concern and dismay at the inn. Embrocations
were used, and doctors were talked of, and heads were shaken, and a
couch in the sitting-room was prepared, so that the poor