the woman
smiled at the thought.

"Not she! Stunned a bit, that's all. Perhaps hit her head in falling.
I've often had them like this before, and they are pretty well all right
in a few hours. We have a lot of people up here in summertime who know
nothing about managing a boat--no offence to you, sir--I daresay you are
well accustomed to them, but accidents will happen!"

"I thought I was!" sighed the Captain dismally. He knelt down by the
couch, and touched the cold cheek with his fingers. "Feels a little
warmer, doesn't she? For goodness' sake, take that thing off her head,
I can't bear to see it."

The woman lifted the head from the pillow to unloosen the tight folds,
and at the movement Pixie sighed, and opened wide, bewildered eyes. For
the first moment they held nothing but blankest surprise at finding
herself in so extraordinary a position, but, even as the Captain held
his breath in suspense, a spark of remembrance came into the clear
depths, and the face lit up with a flickering merriment.

"Were we drowned?" she whispered hoarsely. "The two of us?--Viva
jumped, and the boat slipped, and my feet went down. Who saved me? Was
it you?"

"I suppose it was, but it was not a very heroic rescue--only a few yards
to the bank. You are sure you feel all right? Quite warm and
comfortable? Your head doesn't ache?"

Pixie shook her dishevelled head from side to side, frowning the while
in speculative fashion.

"I think it does--a little bit, but I'm not quite sure. It feels
muzzy!" she declared, with a gesture and accent which lent some
enlightenment to the enigmatical expression. Then she stretched out a
hand, and touched him anxiously on the shoulder. "You're drenched!
You'll catch all sorts of diseases in those wet clothes. Can't you have
some blankets too? I'm so lovely and warm."

"My husband is putting out some clothes for you upstairs, sir. You had
better go and change. The young lady is all right now, and I will tell
you when the doctor comes."

"Doctor! Is a doctor coming? To see me?" Pixie asked, rapturously
incredulous.

To find herself the heroine of an adventure, a genuine thrilling
adventure, to lie stretched upon a sofa, wrapped in blankets, with two
attendants anxiously inquiring her symptoms; to know that a doctor was
hurrying to her side--this was indeed a glorious ending to the day's
enjoyment! She lay back on the cushions wreathed in smiles, and the
doctor, coming in