Vaguely she recognized it, but she was too occupied in the struggle to keep her senses to pay much attention to what it said.
"I mustn't faint!" she gasped desperately through her set teeth.

"I mustn't faint!" A steady arm encircled her, holding her up.
"You'll be all right in half a minute," said the voice, close to her now.

"You came down rather hard." She fought with herself and opened her eyes.

Her head was swimming still, but she compelled herself to look.
Jeff Ironside was beside her, one foot lodged upon the lowest bar of the gate while he propped her against his bent knee.
He looked down at her with a certain sternness of demeanour that was characteristic of him.

"Take your time," he said.