I heard Jimmy's muttered "My God!" My arm was reaching to catch
Constantia if she should drop backward.
But she pulled herself together with a long sob--I felt it shuddering
through her, so close she knelt by me. Again silence fell on the
room. Jimmy had fetched my bath-sponge along with the bottle.
I poured water upon it and bathed Jack's temples, watching his
eyelids. After a while they fluttered a little. I felt over his
heart. "He is coming round," I announced: "but we'll let him lie
here for a little, before lifting him on to the couch.
"One question first," commanded Constantia. "Answer me, you two.
. . . Is this--is this thing true, Roddy? _Did he leave-this
man--on the island?_"
For the moment I could put up no better delay--as neither could
Jimmy--than to call "hush!" and pretend to listen to Jack's faintly
recovering heart-beat. But Farrell heard, and answered,--
"It's true, Miss Denistoun. . . . I had no notion to find him here;
still less to find you and distress you. I came to Sir Roderick.
But the dog here was wiser. _He_ knew the scent on the stairs, and
raced in ahead.
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