"What became of the ball ?" he asked quickly, as he sat up.

Then turning round, he saw the beautiful girl kneeling at his side.

The blood rushed violently to his face, and his eyes, a moment ago dim with unconsciousness, flashed brightly.
"What! Miss Westonhaugh--you ?" he bounded to his feet, but would have fallen back if I had not caught him in my arms, for he was still dizzy from the heavy blow that had stunned him.

The blood came and went in his cheeks, and he hung on my arm confused and embarrassed, looking on the ground.
"I really owe you all manner of apologies--" he began.
"Not a bit of it, my dear boy," broke in Ghyrkins, "my niece was nearest to you when you fell, and so she came up and did the right thing, like the brave girl she is." The old fellow helped her to rise as he said this, and he looked so pleased and proud of her that I was delighted with him.

"And now," he went on, "we must see how much you are hurt--the deuce of a knock, you know, enough to kill you--and if you are not able to ride, why, we will carry you home, you know; the devil of a way off it is, too, confound it all." As he jerked out his sentences he was feeling the back of Isaacs' head, to ascertain, if he could, how much harm had been done.