140 ONLY THE MARE 



fancy ; but it is cold, and isn't the ground hard ! " 

 I said. 



" It is hard ! " cried Bertie, stamping vigorously. 

 " By Jove ! I hope it's not going to freeze ! " and 

 afflicted by the notion — for a hard frost would have 

 rendered it necessary to postpone the races — he 

 hurried off to the stables, to consult one of the men 

 who was weather-wise. 



Some stone steps led from the terrace in front of 

 the house to the lawn ; at either end of the top-step 

 was a large globe of stone, and on to one of these 

 thoughtless little Nellie climbed. I stretched out 

 my hand, fearing that the weather had made it 

 slippery, but before I could reach her she slipped 

 and fell. 



" You rash little person ! " I said, expecting 

 that she would spring up lightly. 



" Oh ! my foot ! " she moaned ; and gave a little 

 shriek of pain as she put it to the ground. 



I took her in my arms, and summoning her maid, 

 carried her to the drawing-room. 



" Take off her boot," I said to the girl, but Nellie 

 could not bear to have her foot touched, and feebly 

 moaned that her arm hurt her. 



" Oh ! pray send for a doctor, sir ! " implored the 

 maid, while Nellie only breathed heavily, with half- 

 closed eyes ; and horribly frightened, I rushed off, 



