Maggie leaped from the bed, still shrieking, and soon there was a rush of footsteps towards the room. Mr. Stelling, from his upstairs study, was the first to enter. He found both the children on the floor. Tom had fainted, and Maggie was shaking him by the collar of his jacket, screaming, with wild eyes. She thought he was dead, poor child! And yet she shook him, as if that would bring him back to life. In another minute she was sobbing with joy because Tom had opened his eyes. She couldn't sorrow yet that he had hurt his foot; it seemed as if all happiness lay in his being alive. In a very short time the wounded hero was put to bed, and a surgeon was fetched, who dressed the wound with a serious face which greatly impressed every one. Chapter XIII. PHILIP AND MAGGIE. Poor Tom bore his severe pain like a hero, but there was a terrible dread weighing on his mind--so terrible that he dared not ask the question which might bring the fatal "yes"--he dared not ask the surgeon or Mr. Stelling, "Shall I be lame, sir?" It had not occurred to either of these gentlemen to set the lad's mind at rest with hopeful words. But Philip watched the surgeon out of the house, and waylaid Mr. Stelling to ask the very question that Tom had not dared to ask for himself. "I beg your pardon, sir, but does Mr. Askern say Tulliver will be lame?" "Oh no, oh no," said Mr. Stelling; "only for a little while." "Did he tell Tulliver so, sir, do you think?" "No; nothing was said to him on the subject." "Then I may go and tell him, sir?" "Yes, to be sure. Now you mention it, I dare say he may be troubling about that. Go to his bedroom, but be very quiet." It had been Philip's first thought when he heard of the accident, "Will Tulliver be lame? It will be very hard for him if he is." And Tom's offences against himself were all washed out by that pity. "Mr. Askern says you'll soon be all right again, Tulliver; did you know?" he said, rather timidly, as he stepped gently up to Tom's bed. "I've just been to ask Mr. Stelling, and he says you'll walk as well as ever again, by-and-by." Tom looked up with that stopping of the breath which comes with a sudden joy; then he gave a long sigh, and turned his blue-gray eyes straight on Philip's face, as he had not done for a fortnight or more. As for Maggie, the bare idea of Tom's being always lame overcame her, and she clung to him and cried afresh. "Don't be a little silly, Magsie," said Tom tenderly, feeling very brave now. "I shall soon get well." "Good-bye, Tulliver," said Philip, putting out his small, delicate hand, which Tom clasped with his strong fingers. "I say," said Tom, "ask Mr. Stelling to let you come and sit with me sometimes, till I get up again, Wakem, and tell me about Robert Bruce, you know."