"Yes, but as my chivalrous miracle had saved me from damage, I was found unconsciously beautiful (which I have always heard is the most graceful way of wearing your beauty). I soon came to myself with the aid of a dark-eyed doctor, and I then learnt that the old gentleman had been too weak to sustain the shock and that his poor old pulse had ceased to beat. My rescuers had not disturbed _Threepenny Bits_ from its position 'twixt my hand and heart in case I should die and need it; so when the line was cleared and I was sent on to London after a pleasant lunch with the dark-eyed doctor, I had the journal to read after all, despite the discourtesy of the deceased. When I arrived at Paddington I found Richard Westbourne walking the platform like Hamlet's ghost, white and trembling. He was scanning the carriages feverishly, as the train glided in with its habitual nonchalance. "'My darling!' he cried when he caught sight of my dainty hat with its sweet trimmings. 'Thank Heaven!' He twisted the door violently open and kissed me before the crowd. Fortunately I had my lovely spotted veil all down, so he only pressed the tulle to my lips. "'What is the matter?' I said ingenuously. "'The accident!' he gasped. Weren't you in the accident?' "'Of course I was. But I was not very much crumpled. If I had sat in the other corner I should have been killed!" "'My heroine!' he cried. 'How brave of you!' He made as if he would rumple my hair but I drew back. "'Were you waiting for me?' I asked. "'Of course. Hours and hours. O the agony of it! See, here is the evening paper! It gives you as dead.' "'Where?' I cried, nervously. His trembling forefinger pointed to the place. 'A beautiful young lady was also extricated in an unconscious condition from this carriage.' "'Isn't it wonderful the news should be in London before me?' I murmured. 'But I suppose they will have names and fuller particulars in a later edition.' "'Of course. But fancy my having to be in London, unable to get to you for love or money!' "'Yes, it was very hard for me to be there all alone,' I murmured. 'But please run and see after my luggage, there are three portmanteaus and a little black one, and three bonnet boxes, and two parasols, and call a hansom, oh--and a brown paper parcel, and a long narrow cardboard box--and get me the latest editions of the evening papers--and please see that the driver isn't drunk, and don't take a knock-kneed horse or one that paws the ground, you know those hansom doors fly open and shoot you out like rubbish--I do so hate them--and oh! Richard, don't forget those novels from Mudie's,--they're done up with a strap. Three bonnet boxes, remember, and _all_ the evening papers, mind.' "When we were bowling homewards he kept expressing his joy by word and deed, so that I was unable to read my papers. At last, annoyed, I said: 'You wouldn't be so glad if you knew that my resurrection cost three thousand pounds.' "'How do you mean?'