and
top. We were going now, but the trees by the wayside seemed to be
closing in on me. The road was really ridiculously narrow. I could
see a corner coming. The pain was awful. My head began to swim, and I
felt the near wheel rise on the bank. I wrenched the car round, took
out the clutch and dragged the lever into neutral. As I jammed on the
hand-brake, I seemed to see many lights. Then came the noise of a
horn, cries, and the sound of tires tearing at the road. I fell
forward and fainted.

I could smell Daphne. Somewhere at hand was my sister's faint perfume:
I opened my eyes.

"Hullo, Boy!" said Jill, her small, cool hand on my forehead.

"Better, darling?" said Daphne, brushing my cheek with soft lips.

"I'm all right," I said, raising myself on my left elbow. Still the
stabbing pain in my right side. "Where are we?"

"In the hall at St. Martin, dear. How did it all happen?"

"How did I get here?" I asked. "And you--I don't understand."

"We nearly ran you down, old chap." Berry's voice. "About a quarter
of a mile from here, towards Fladstadt. But why were you driving away?"

I stared at him. "Driving away?" I said slowly. "Then--"

There were quick steps and the rustling of a dress.

Then Silvia spoke. "What is it, Bill? Tell me. Who's hurt?"

"It's all right, m'dear," said the man's voice. "Mrs. Pleydell's
brother's met with an accident. We found him in the road. Don't make
a noise. This is my sister, Mrs. Pleydell."

"How d'you do?" said Daphne. "My brother seems--"

"I'm all right," I said suddenly. "I'd lost my way, see? And one of
the tires went, just as I was passing a big white house on the left. I
stopped under a balcony, I think."

"That's right," said Bill Bairling. "Balcony of Silvia's room."

"I never knew it was St. Martin, though. I must have cut across
country somehow. Still. Well, there was no jack on the car so I
couldn't do anything. Just as I was getting in again, I heard a noise
above me and turned. My foot slipped on the step, and I fell on my
side. Couple of ribs gone, I think. I tried to get on to Fladstadt.
Is the car all right?"

"And you said you weren't hurt," cried Silvia, sinking on her knees by
Jill.

"Was it you who asked me?" I spoke steadily, looking her full in the
eyes.

"Yes," said Silvia.

"I know I did. But then, you know, I don't always mean what I say."
Then the pain surged up once more, and I fainted.