She forced herself to be cheerful when with the others, and to take an
interest in what interested them, but when left alone would drop her book
or work and fall into a reverie, or wander out into the grounds, choosing
the most quiet and secluded parts; often the shady banks of the lakelet,
where she and Lester had passed many an hour together in days gone by.
She had gone there one morning, leaving the others at home busied with
their lessons. Seated on a rustic bench, her hands folded in her lap, her
eyes on the ground and a book lying unheeded in the grass at her feet, she
was startled by a sound as of some heavy body falling from a height and
crashing through the branches of a thick clump of trees on the other side
of the lake.
She sprang up and stood looking and listening with a palpitating heart.
She could see that a large branch had broken from a tall tree, and lay
upon the ground and--yes, something else lay beside or on it, half
concealed from her view by the green leaves and twigs; and--did she hear a
groan?
Perhaps it was only fancy, but it might be that some one was lying there
in pain and needing assistance.
Pages:
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335