He marched over the brow of the hill and down the other side in a kind of ecstasy.
He waited for her to speak again, but for some reason she kept silent. He felt her fingers clutch the back of his neck, and every now and then a feeble sigh escaped her lips.
"I think I can bear it," she answered feebly.
"I wish I could carry you more gently," he said, "but the ground is very rough."
"Oh, but you are splendid!" she replied. "I wish I had not been rude to you."
He gave a big gulp, as though a lump had risen in his throat.
"Don't say that again, please," he said at length. "I feel bad enough to drown myself."
She did not reply again, and for a long distance he walked on in silence. He was almost ready to drop, and yet he was scarcely conscious of fatigue. It seemed to him as though the strength of ten men had been given to him.
"We shall be in the high road in a few minutes now," he said at length; but she did not reply. Her hands seemed to be relaxing their hold about his neck again; her weight had suddenly increased.
He staggered hurriedly forward to the junction of the roads, and then sat down suddenly on a bank, still holding his precious charge in his arms. He shifted her head a little, so that he could look at her face. She did not attempt to speak, though he saw she was quite conscious.
"There's some kind of vehicle coming along the road," he said at length, lifting his head suddenly.
She did not reply, but her eyes seemed to search his face as though something perplexed her.
She closed her eyes slowly by way of reply; she was too spent to speak.
"You have not yet told me who you are," he said at length. All thought of rank and station had passed out of his mind. They were on an equality while he sat there folding her in his arms.
She opened her eyes again, and her lips moved, but no sound escaped them.
In the distance the rattle of wheels sounded more and more distinct.
"Help is coming," he whispered. "I'm sure it is."
Her eyes seemed to smile into his, but no other answer was given.
He looked eagerly toward the bend of the road, and after a few minutes a horse and carriage appeared in sight.
"It's Dr. Barrow's carriage," he said half aloud. "Oh, this is fortunate!"
He raised a shout as the carriage drew near. The coachman saw that something had happened, and pulled up suddenly. The doctor pushed his head out of the window, then turned the door-handle and stepped out on to the roadside.