The man would have sheltered me until the troops came
up, but I was obliged to be moving, so I started down. Hush! here
comes Isobel; we must keep it from her."
"Now, Isobel," he went on, as the girl joined them, and they all
started along the road, "tell me how it is I find you here."
"Mr. Bathurst must tell you, Doctor; I cannot talk about it yet--
I can hardly think about it."
"Well, Bathurst, let us hear it from you."
"It is a painful story for me to have to tell."
Isobel looked up in surprise.
"Painful, Mr. Bathurst? I should have thought--" and she stopped.
"Not all painful, Miss Hannay, but in parts. I would rather tell
you, Doctor, when we have finished our journey this evening, if
your curiosity will allow you to wait so long."
"I will try to wait," the Doctor replied, "though I own it is a
trial. Now, Isobel, you have not told me yet what has happened to
your face. Let me look at it closer, child. I see your arms are
bad, too. What on earth has happened to you?"
"I burnt myself with acid, Doctor. Mr. Bathurst will tell you all
about it."
"Bless me, mystery seems to thicken. Well, you have got yourself
into a pretty pickle. Why, child, burns of that sort leave scars
as bad as if you had been burnt by fire. You ought to be in a dark
room with your face and hands bandaged, instead of tramping along
here in the sun."
"I have some lotions and some ointment, Doctor. I have used them
regularly since it was done, and the places don't hurt me much
now.
Pages:
470
471
472
473
474
475
476
477
478
479
480
481
482
483
484
485
486
487
488
489
490
491
492
493
494