He was busy for some time, and in the meanwhile Batley picked up the flask he had laid down and handed it to Gladwyne. "Take a good drink and pull yourself together," he said quietly. At length Lisle was gently lifted on to the stretcher, and as they carried him away the report of a gun ran out. The onlookers dispersed and Gladwyne was walking home alone when Millicent overtook him. She was puzzled by his limp appearance and the expression of his haggard face. It was only natural that he should keenly feel his responsibility for the accident, but this did not quite seem to account for the man's condition. He looked absolutely unnerved, like one who had barely escaped from some appalling catastrophe. "You shouldn't take it quite so much to heart," she comforted him. "I don't think Irvine felt any great uneasiness; and nobody could blame you." "You're the only one who has said so," he answered moodily. "They couldn't; you stole away. Of course, it's a great pity--I'm distressed--but you must try to be sensible. These accidents happen." He walked on a while in silence, and then with an effort looked around at her. "Millicent," he said, "you're wonderfully generous--the sight of anybody in trouble stirs you--but I don't feel able to bear your sympathy." "Then I'll have to offer it to Lisle," she smiled. "But I'll walk with you to the lodge; and then you had better go in and keep quiet until you get back your nerve." When she left Gladwyne she went on to Nasmyth's, where she waited until the doctor on leaving told her that he was perfectly satisfied with the prospect for the Canadian's recovery. It would, he said, be merely a question of lying still for a considerable time. Millicent was conscious of a relief which puzzled her by its intensity as she heard the news, but she asked Nasmyth to send somebody to inform Gladwyne. "I think he's desperately anxious and feeling the thing very badly," she concluded. "Then he could have come over to inquire, as you have done," Nasmyth answered. "In my opinion, he deserves to be uncomfortable." "Why are you so hard on him?" The man's face grew grim. "I've had to help Irvine with Lisle, for one thing. We were satisfied that his injuries were not caused by the bay rolling on him; he seems to have escaped from that with a few bad bruises. The worst of the accident might have been avoided if Clarence had had nerve enough." "But you couldn't blame him very greatly for losing his head--he had no warning, scarcely a moment to think. It was so sudden." "The result's the same," retorted Nasmyth. "Lisle has to pay. But to please you I'll send Clarence word that Irvine's not anxious about him." CHAPTER XVIII A PRUDENT DECISION