"I heard a crash," he said; "and thought there must be an accident." Gentian turned impatiently from Godwin towards him. "You do it," she said, "I would rather you did." Godwin looked hurt, but taking a flask out of his pocket, Thorold bade him fetch some water from a stream near. In a few minutes the bleeding was staunched, and her head neatly bound up, but Gentian felt dizzy and faint. She persisted in walking back to the car, and Thorold's arm was taken, not Godwin's. Miss Ward, who was sitting in it under the shade of a chestnut tree, made her comfortable at once, and then they decided to go to the nearest town, and get a doctor to look at it. "It shan't spoil our day," said Gentian. "I'm feeling all right again." "What were you doing, dear?" "Trying to imagine myself a bird, Waddy. Pride must have a fall." "You might have been killed," said Godwin. He looked white and shaken. His brother glanced at him curiously, but made no remark. At the very entrance to the next village they were fortunate enough to come to a doctor's house. The brass plate on the gate told its tale. They were still more fortunate to find the doctor at home, and he very soon plastered up the cut, and reassured Miss Ward about it. "It's only a surface wound," he said; "and her head is a little bruised. She is lucky to have escaped so easily." "My accident mustn't shorten our day out," said Gentian, when they were in the car again. "I'm quite well. Do please let us do more of the Forest." So they turned once again into the Forest, and drove through it to the place they had arranged to have tea. But Godwin's spirits had visibly declined; his eyes never left Gentian's face, and she noticed and resented the change in him. "Why do you make such big eyes at me!" she exclaimed at last. "You needn't be glum and cross, because I made a fool of myself." They had just left the car when she made this remark. Thorold and Miss Ward had gone into the hotel to order tea. "Oh," he cried, "you don't realize what it meant to me—seeing you fall like that—you might have been killed on the spot! And I'm afraid even now that you are more hurt than you make out. You must be! I expect you'll feel it to-morrow." "Thank you for your cheerful comfort! You sound like an old lady talking!" A red flush mounted in Godwin's fair cheeks. "No man would dare to say that to me," he said quickly. Gentian gave one of her rippling laughs. "That's how I like to see you. I wanted to get a rise out of you. It's very nice of you to be so interested in me, but I'd much rather you forgot all about me and told me some more of your sea yarns." "Interested in you!" Godwin exclaimed. "I—I love you, Gentian—I wouldn't have any hurt happen to your little finger if I could help it. I feel I could die for you, and yet you wouldn't let me touch you when you were so hurt! You turned to Thor instead!"