n circles before her dazed eyes. Then, with a supreme effort, she managed to clutch the bough, to which sh

I'll be down in a m

vered with moss and leaves, her dress torn, her face hotly

ken by the rotten bough which had come to the ground with her; but, notwithstanding this

repentance

look ill, and it's my fault of course. Why did I have a secret? and why did I tease you? Oh, Nora!" she added, ter

. Can't you fetch some water. Oh, everyt

ave got an awful shake from that fall, but you'll be all right soon-I'm

ndkerchief with part of the contents and put it on N

girl; but when she attempted to sit up, she

. "I won't be a minute. I'll go as if I we

pain in my back gets worse and worse. Kitty, don't leave m

oh, dear! what's the use of being sorry? That won't

ou mustn't

was extreme, and she was forced to lie absolutely still, while Kitty wetted h

ire she had was to keep Kitty by her side. But poor Kitty's little heart was full of absolute terror. She had never seen anyone look so ill as Nora. Her face was white; her lips w

knew of the fall which stings; of the fall which shakes you all over, which raises a great bump and causes great soreness of the injured part;

and pain, Nora closed her eyes, poor Kitty felt almost as if she w

the case, to her dying day Kitty would feel that she had killed her by tempting her on to a rotten bough. It was terrible

etch her mother, but now, in the kind of torpor of pain into which she had sunk, she relaxed the

nd rose slowl

he movement

it

es

not goin

to see if there'

don't g

d Kitty's terrors and her certain fears that

her, to right and le

ers of the picnic had evidently wandered far afield; but, hark, what sound was that? Oh, joy! Who was this coming swiftly through the trees? Kitty's heart gave a bound of

back was Squire

. It was not his custom, however, on any occasion to disappoint his young peop

in his direction by

others? I expected quite a swarm of you to rush forth. Where is Molly, and where is Nora, and where is the beautiful Annie Forest, wh

visibly befor

said. "I and Nora are alone, I-ge

" The Squire hastily dismounted. "Are y

s I didn't wish to be caught; and Nora followed me, and the bough broke, and she's lying on her back now and she can't move, and I thi

glad I came round this way; it was a lucky chance. Wait a

that knoll of grass.

now about people dying? Give me

t of looking into his face. A burden as of black night was lifted from her. She ran

he asked, dropping on one knee and trying

her pretty

she said in a faint voice. "I've

you, Nonie? Don't bother about anything n

Oh, don't touch m

er's face loo

fall from, Ki

sh made in the beech-tr

d the Squire to himself. "G

good thing if your mother were here; you had better fetch her. Don't frighten her, Kit, for Nora may not be badly hurt after all; but bring her here as quickly a

st happy again under the influence

orrimer, Jane Macalister, and every other member of the picnic

looked eagerly for one face, t

hold my hand

nd kissed her; Nora smiled as if a

iculty the poor child was lifted into it. The pain of even th

hat Hester Thornton came

she said; "had not we better bring her there? And had not

unt on Black Bess's back and off with you. Bring D

nereal fashion, left the scene of festivity. The strongest of the party had to take

o Hester and

s is," she said; "but, somehow or other,

o have lost herself. Oh, how miserable poor little Kitty look

y. "Don't ask me; it'

," murmured Nan. "Oh, what a horrid, horrid,