ed to catch the hook of her line in her hand.
She was in great pain, her efforts to remove the hook only increasing
her torment. She was wondering what was the best way of getting help,
when she saw Perigal approaching. Her first impulse was to avoid him.
With beating heart, she hid behind a clump of bushes. But the pain in
her hand became so acute that she suddenly emerged from her concealment
to call sharply for assistance. He ran towards her, asking as he came:

"What's the matter?"

"My hand," she faltered. "I've caught the hook in it."

"Poor dear! Let me look."

"Please do something. It hurts," she urged, as she put out her hand,
which was torn by the cruel hook.

"What an excellent catch! But, all the same, I must get it out at
once," he remarked, as he produced a pocket knife.

"With that?" she asked tremulously.

"I won't hurt you more than I can help, you may be sure. But it must
come out at once, or you'll get a bad go of blood poisoning."

"Do it as quickly as possible," she urged.

She set her lips, while he cut into the soft white flesh.

However much he hurt her, she resolved not to utter a sound. For all
her fortitude, the trifling operation pained her much.

"Brave little Mavis!" he said, as he freed her flesh from the hook, to
ask, as she did not speak, "Didn't it hurt?"

"Of course it did. See how it's bleeding!"

"All the better. It will clear the poison out."

Mavis was hurt at the indifference he exhibited to her pain.

"Would you please tie my handkerchief round it?" she asked.

"Let it bleed. What are you thinking of?"

"I want to get back."

"Where's the hurry?"

"Only that I want to get back."

"But I haven't seen you for ages."

"Haven't you?" she asked innocently.

"Cruel Mavis! But before you go back you must wash your hand in the
river."

"I'll do nothing of the kind."

"Not if it's for your good?"

"Not if I don't wish it."

"As it's for your good, I insist on your doing what I wish," he
declared, as he caught her firmly by the wrist and led her, all
unresisting, to the river's brink. She was surprised at her
helplessness and was inclined to criticise it impersonally, the while
Perigal plunged her wounded hand into the water. Her reflections were
interrupted by a sharp pain caused by the contact of water with the
torn flesh.

"It's better than blood poisoning," he hastened to assure her.

"I believe you do it on purpose to hurt me," she remarked, upon h