He cursed himself in his shame and anger as he sat recovering his equilibrium on the broken chair and tying a handkerchief tightly round his wounded leg.

What a fool he had been! Why had he not waited to see which of the two he really loved?
Why had Jess gone away like that and thrown him into temptation with her pretty sister?
He was sure now that she had cared for him all along.

Well, there it was, and a bad business too! One thing he was clear about; it should go no farther.

He would not break his engagement to Bessie; it was not to be thought of.

But, all the same, he felt sorry for himself, and sorry for Jess too.
Just then, however, the bandage on his leg slipped, and the wound began to bleed so fast that he was fain to hobble into the house for assistance.
Jess, who had apparently quite recovered from her agitation, was standing by the table talking to Mrs.Neville, who was persuading her to swallow some of the brandy she had been at such pains to fetch.