lying on the ground with ever so many gentlemen looking at
her.

At that, Modesty alarmed sent the blood at once rushing to her pale
cheek.

A lovely lily seemed turning to a lovely rose before their eyes.

The next thing was, she hid that blushing face in her hands, and began
to whimper.

The surgeon encouraged her: "Nay, we are all friends," he whispered,
paternally.

She half parted her fingers and peered through them at Neville and
Gaunt. Then she remembered all, and began to cry hysterically.

New dismay of the unprofessionals!

"_Now_, Gentlemen, if you will lend me your flasks," said Mr. Islip,
mighty calmly.

Griffith and Neville were instantly at his side, each with a flask.

The surgeon administered snow and brandy. Kate sipped these, and gulped
down her sobs, and at last cried composedly.

But when it came to sipping brandied snow and crying comfortably, Major
Rickards's anxiety gave place to curiosity. Without taking his eye off
her, he beckoned Mr. Hammersley apart, and whispered,--

"Who the Deuse is it?"

"Don't you know?" whispered the other in return. "Why, Mistress Peyton
herself."

"What! the girl it is all about? Well, I never heard of such a thing:
the _causa belli_ to come _galloping_ and _swooning_ on the field of
battle, and so stop the fighting! What will our ladies do next? By
Heaven! she is worth fighting for, though. Which is the happy man, I
wonder? She doesn't look at either of them."

"Ah!" said the gentleman, "that is more than I know, more than Neville
knows, more than anybody knows."

"Bet you a guinea _she_ knows,--and lets it out before she leaves the
field," said Major Rickards.

Mr. Hammersley objected to an even bet; but said he would venture one to
three she did not. It was an age of bets.

"Done!" said the Major.

By this time Kate had risen, with Mr. Islip's assistance, and was now
standing with her hand upon the piebald's mane. She saw Rickards and
Hammersley were whispering about her, and she felt very uneasy: so she
told Mr. Islip, timidly, she desired to explain her conduct to _all_ the
gentlemen present, and avert false reports.

They were soon all about her, and she began, with the most engaging
embarrassment, by making excuses for her weakness. She said she had
ridden all the way from home, fasting; that was what had upset her. The
gentlemen took the cue directly, and vowed eagerly and unanimously it
was enough to upset a porter.

"But, indeed