258 THE FAT OF THE LAND 



papa mend you." Then she burst into tears. 

 " Oh, I am so sorry and so frightened ! Do you 

 feel very bad, Jack ? I know you are suffering 

 dreadfully, Mr. Jarvis. Can't I do something for 

 you?" 



" My arm is bruised a bit," said Jarvis ; if 

 you don't mind, you can steady it a little." 



Jane's soft hands clasped themselves tenderly 

 over Jarvis's great fist, and she felt relieved in 

 the thought that she was doing something for 

 her hero. She held the great right hand of Her- 

 cules tenderly, and Jarvis never let her know 

 that it was the left arm that had been broken. 

 She felt certain that he must be suffering agony, 

 for ever and anon his fingers would close over 

 hers with a spasmodic grip that sent a thrill of 

 mixed joy and pain to her heart. 



While I was bandaging the broken arm I saw 

 the young lady going through some pantomimic 

 exercises with her hands, as if seeking to revive 

 the memory of some previous position ; then her 

 face blazed with a light, half pleasure and half 

 shame, and she disappeared. 



When the carriage arrived at Four Oaks, the 

 story was told in few words, and I immediately 

 set to work to " mend " the boys. Jack insisted 

 that Jarvis should receive the first attention, and, 

 indeed, he looked the worse. But after washing 

 the blood off his face, I found that beyond a 

 severe bruise, which would disfigure him for a 

 few days, his face and head were unhurt. His 



