They were just hearing the brow of a hill, when an unlucky boy in the road, thinking to stay their progress, stepped before them and waved his hat over his head. Faith heard an execration from the doctor, then his shout to her, "Don't stir, Miss Derrick!"--and then she hardly knew anything else. The horses plunged madly down the hill, leaped carriage and all across a fence at the bottom of it, where the road turned, overthrew themselves and landed the doctor and Faith on different sides of the carriage, in a meadow. The doctor picked himself up again, entirely unhurt, and going round to Faith lifted her head from the ground. But she was stunned by the fall, and for a few minutes remained senseless. In these circumstances, no house being near, the doctor naturally shouted to a cap or hat which he saw passing along the road. Which cap also it happened belonged to Sam Stoutenburgh, who was on an errand into the country for his father. If ever Dr. Harrison was unceremoniously put aside, it was then. Sam had come rather leisurely at first--then with a sort of flying bound which cleared the fence like a thistle down, he bore down upon the doctor, and taking up Faith as easily as if she had been a kitten, absolutely ran with her to a spring which welled up through the long meadow grass a few yards off. There the doctor found him applying the cold water with both gentleness and skill, for Sam Stoutenburgh had a mother, and her fingers had been so employed about his own head many a time. "You're a handy fellow!" said the doctor with a mixture of expressions, as he joined his efforts to Sam's.--"That will do it!"-- For Faith opened her eyes. The first word was "Mother!"--then she sat up and looked round, and then covered her face. "Are you hurt?" said Dr. Harrison after an instant. "No sir, I think not--I believe not." "Can you stand up?" With the help of his hand she could do it easily. She stood silent, supported by him, looking on the prostrate horses and shattered curricle; then turned her grave eyes on the doctor. "Don't stand too long, Miss Faith!" said Sam earnestly, with trembling lips too, for the manhood in him had not got very far. "Are you _sure_ you're not hurt?" "Sam!" said Faith giving her hand to him.--"I didn't know it was you who was helping me." "I only wish I'd been here for you to fall upon!" said Sam, with a queer mingling of grief and pleasure. "Seems as if folks couldn't always be in just the right place." "I am not hurt," she said with a little shudder. "Now, how are you going to do to get home?" said the doctor looking much concerned. "Shall I--" "I will walk home," she said interrupting him. "You are not able! We are three miles, at least, from Mrs. Derrick's house. You could not bear it." "I can walk three miles," she said with a faint, fair smile. "I will go home with Sam, and you can take care of the horses."