e even to
think. I stood braced in the middle of the road, and caught at the
steering handle as it flashed by. My weight was light, and the General
was heavy. I expected to have to hold hard, but what really happened
was startling and unexpected, for the steering handle whirled straight
round, struck me a severe blow on the arm, and--toppled me right over on
to the foot of the chair! I sat down heavily on the General's feet, and
the front wheel tore whirling streamers from the bottom of my skirt.
The chair swayed, jerked, slackened its speed; two strong hands
stretched out and checked it still further; a second pair of hands
gripped hold, and brought it to a stand.

Now came the moment when I ought to have been acclaimed, and overwhelmed
with grateful acknowledgments as an heroic rescuer, who had risked her
own life to save a feeble and suffering old man; but not at all! Quite
the contrary! No sooner was his flight safely stopped than the General
turned and roared at me with furious voice:--

"You sat on _my feet_! You are sitting on my _feet_!--I, with the gout!
Get up! _Get up_!"

Then he turned to Mr Maplestone, and roared at him:--

"What on earth did you _mean_ by letting go?"

Then Mr Maplestone turned to the valet, and roared at him:--

"Why the dickens couldn't you _come_, instead of hanging about all day?"

Then they all turned on me, and chorused, "Get up! _Get up_!" and I
tried to get up, and the caught streamers of my dress held me fast, and
I sat down heavily again--_plop_, right on top of the poor gouty feet.
The General roared more loudly than before, the two other men called
out, "Oh, oh!" and I felt as if I should go into hysterics myself. It
was a most lacerating scene.

Mr Maplestone took out his penknife and hacked at the ends of my skirt;
the valet, who was the only calm and sensible one of the party, lifted
me up, and supported me in his arms till I was set free. Then he let go
suddenly, and I was so weak and giddy that I nearly fell down a third
time. The General closed his eyes and emitted heart-rending groans, and
the valet nipped hold of the handle of the chair and made for home as
fast as he could go. I stood in the midst of my rags and tatters, and
Mr Maplestone stood by my side.

"I hope you are not hurt."

"Oh, not at all!" I said bitterly. I was aching from head to foot. To
judge from my sensations, my right arm was paralysed for life. In some
mysterious way a