The Bars of Iron. Ethel M. Dell

be brave in a minute," she promised him tremulously. "You won't mind waiting—just a minute?"

      "Two, if you like," said Piers.

      Avery was stooping over the injured foot. Jeanie was propped sideways, half-lying against Piers' knee.

      "Don't touch it, please, Aunt Avery!" she whispered.

      The other children had drawn round in an interested group. "It looks like a fracture to me," observed Olive in her precise voice.

      Piers flashed her a withering glance. "Mighty lot you know about it!" he retorted rudely.

      Pat sniggered. He was not fond of his second sister. But his mirth was checked by the impulsive Gracie who pushed him aside with a brief, "Don't be a pig!"

      Olive retired into the background with her nose in the air, looking so absurdly like her father that a gleam of humour shot through even Piers' sternness. He suppressed it and turned to the two elder boys.

      "Which of you is to be trusted to carry a loaded gun?"

      "I am," said Julian.

      "No—Ronald," said Avery very firmly.

      Julian stuck out his tongue at her, and was instantly pummeled therefor by the zealous Gracie.

      "Ronald," said Piers. "Mind how you pick it up, and don't point it at anyone! Carry it on your shoulder! That's the way. Go slow with it! Now you walk in front and take it down to the lodge!"

      He issued his orders with the air of a commanding-officer, and having issued them turned again with renewed gentleness to the child who lay against his arm.

      "Now, little girl, shall we make a move? I'm afraid postponing it won't make it any better. I'll carry you awfully carefully."

      "Thank you," whispered Jeanie.

      He stooped over her. "Put your arm round my neck! That'll be a help. Mrs.

       Denys, can you steady her foot while I get up?"

      Avery bent to do so. He moved with infinite care; but even so the strain upon the foot was inevitable. Jeanie gave a sharp cry, and sank helpless in his arms.

      He began to speak encouragingly but broke off in the middle, feeling the child's head lie limp upon his shoulder.

      "Afraid it's serious," he said to Avery. "We will get her down to the lodge and send for a doctor."

      "By Jove! She's fainted!" remarked Julian. "It's a jolly bad sprain."

      "It's not a sprain at all," said Olive loftily.

      And much as she would have liked to disagree, Avery knew that she was right.

CHAPTER VII

       Table of Contents

      A FRIEND IN NEED

      Mrs. Marshall at the lodge was a hard-featured old woman whose god was cleanliness. Perhaps it was hardly to be expected of her that she should throw open her door to the whole party. Piers, with his limp burden, and Avery she had to admit, but after the latter's entrance she sternly blocked the way.

      "There's no room for any more," she declared with finality. "You'd best run along home."

      And with that she shut the door upon them and followed her unwelcome visitors into her spotless parlour.

      "What's the matter with the young lady?" she enquired sourly.

      Avery answered her in her quick, friendly way. "She has had a fall, poor little thing, and hurt her foot—I'm afraid, badly. It's so good of you to let us bring her in here. Won't you spread a cloth to keep her boots off your clean chintz?"

      The suggestion was what Piers described later as "a lucky hit." It melted old Mrs. Marshall on the instant. She hastened to comply with it, and saw Jeanie laid down upon her sofa with comparative resignation.

      "She do look mortal bad, to be sure," she remarked.

      "Can't you find some brandy?" said Piers.

      "I think she will come to, now," Avery said. "Yes, look! Her eyes are opening."

      She was right. Jeanie's eyes opened very wide and fixed themselves enquiringly upon Piers' face. There was something in them, a species of dumb appeal, that went straight to his heart. He moved impulsively, and knelt beside her.

      Jeanie's hand came confidingly forth to him. "I did try to be brave," she whispered.

      Piers' hand closed instantly and warmly upon hers. "That's all right, little girl," he said kindly. "Pain pretty bad, eh?"

      "Yes," murmured Jeanie.

      "Ah, well, don't move!" he said. "We'll get your boot off and then you'll feel better."

      "Oh, don't trouble, please!" said Jeanie politely.

      She held his hand very tightly, and he divined that the prospect of the boot's removal caused her considerable apprehension.

      He looked round to consult Avery on the subject, but found that she had slipped out of the room. He heard her in the porch speaking to the children, and in a few seconds she was back again.

      "Don't let us keep you!" she said to Piers. "I can stay with Jeanie now. I have sent the children home, all but Ronald and Julian who have gone to fetch Dr. Tudor."

      Piers looked at Jeanie, and Jeanie looked at Piers. Her hand was still fast locked in his.

      "Shall I go?" said Piers.

      Jeanie's blue eyes were very wistful. "I would like you to stay," she said shyly, "if you don't mind."

      "If Mrs. Denys doesn't mind?" suggested Piers.

      To which Avery responded. "Thank you. Please stay!"

      She said it for Jeanie's sake, since it was evident that the child was sustaining herself on the man's strength, but the look Piers flashed her made her a little doubtful as to the wisdom of her action. She realized that it might not be easy to keep him at arm's length after this.

      Piers turned back to Jeanie. "Very well, I'll stay," he said, "anyhow till Tudor comes along. Let's see! You're the eldest girl, aren't you? I ought to know you by name, but somehow my memory won't run to it."

      He could not as a matter of fact remember that he had ever spoken to any of the young Lorimers before, though by sight he was well acquainted with them.

      Jeanie, in whose eyes he had ever shone as a knight of romance, murmured courteously that no one ever remembered them all by name.

      "Well, I shall remember you anyhow," said Piers. "Queenie is it?"

      "No—Jeanie."

      "I shall call you Queenie," he said. "It sounds more imposing. Now won't you let me just slit off that boot? I can do it without hurting you."

      "Slit it!" said Jeanie, shocked.

      "We shan't get it off without," said Piers. "What do you think about it,

       Mrs. Denys?"

      "I will unfasten the lace first," Avery said.

      This she proceeded to do while Piers occupied Jeanie's attention with a success which a less dominant personality could scarcely have achieved.

      But when it came to removing the boot he went to Avery's assistance. It was no easy matter but they accomplished it between them, Piers ruthlessly cutting the leather away from the injured ankle which by that time was badly swollen. They propped it on a cushion, and made her as comfortable as circumstances would allow.

      "Can't that old woman make you some tea?" Piers said then, beginning to chafe at the prospect of an indefinite period of inaction.