The tramp of feet ceased, the two girls with beating hearts heard steps ascend to their door, then a rap at it. Honor went at once to open. Kate hung back. She suspected the hare-hunters, but was afraid of the black faces, and she could not understand the halt and summons. ’Don’t y’ be frightened, Honor,’ said a voice through the door, ’us want y’ out here a bit, if you don’t mind.’ Honor unbolted, and the blackfaced, white-eyed, long-eared, skin-clothed Piper stood before her, holding the black cow tail in his hand. ’Don’t y’ be scared. I’m only the hare. I won’t touch a hair of your head.’ ’What do you want, Mr. Piper?’ asked Honor without trepidation. ’Well, it is this. There’s been an accident, and Master Larry Nanspian hev fallen on his head off his horse and hurted himself bad.’ Honor began to tremble, and caught the door with one hand and the door-post with the other. ’Now do y’ take it easy. He ain’t dead, only hurt. Us don’t want to go right on end carrying him into Chimsworthy, all of us dressed as we are. First place, it might frighten Master Nanspian, second place, he mightn’t like the larks Larry has been on. So us thought if you would let us clean our faces, and take off our skins and other things, and cut the green coat off the back of Larry, here; and then, you’d be so good as run on to Chimsworthy and prepare the old gentleman, you’d be—well, you’d be yourself—I couldn’t put it better.’ Honor had recovered her composure. ’I will do what you wish,’ she said, and her voice was firm, though low. ’You see,’ Piper went on. ’It’s a bit ockerd like; I reckon the old man wouldn’t be satisfied that Larry were mixed up in a hare-hunt that made game of Taverner Langford, his own wife’s brother; and I don’t say that Larry acted right in being in it. Howsomever, he has been, and is now the worse for it. Will you please to bring the candle and let us see how bad he be.’ Honor took the tin candlestick with the tallow dip, and descended the steps, holding it. The four bearers set the gate upon the ground, and Honor held the candle aloft that the light might fall on Larry. But a soft wind was blowing, and it drove the flame on one side, making the long wick glow and then carrying it away in sparks. ’Mr. Piper, go into the cottage and ask my sister Kate to give you my scissors. I will remove the coat. Go all of you, either to the well a few steps down the lane, or into our kitchen, and wait. Kate will give you towel and soap. Leave me with Larry. I must deal very gently with him, and I had rather you were none of you by.’ ’You’re right,’ said Piper. ’Us had better have white faces and get clear of horses and other gear before he sees us.’ ’We must be quick,’ said Sam Voaden. ’Larry must be got home as fast as may be.’