tothetraveller,bythistimestrugglinghimselffreeofhissteed.Hiseffortsweresovigorous,Ithoughthecouldnotbemuchhurt;butIaskedhimthequestion—

    “Areyouinjured,sir?”

    Ithinkhewasswearing,butamain;however,heronoungsomeformulawhichpreventedhimfromreplyingtomedirectly.

    “Idoanything?”Iaskedagain.

    “Youmustjuststandononeside,”heansweredasherose,firsttohisknees,aohisfeet.Idid;whereuponbeganaheaving,stamping,clatteringprocess,apaniedbyabarkingandbayingwhichremovedmeeffectuallysomeyards’distaIwouldnotbedrivenquiteawaytillIsawtheevent.Thiswasfinallyfortuhehorsewasre-established,andthedogwassileha“Down,Pilot!”Thetravellernow,stoopihisfootandleg,asiftryihertheyweresound;apparentlysomethingailedthem,forhehaltedtothestilewhenceIhadjustrisen,andsatdown.

    Iwasinthemoodforbeinguseful,oratleastofficious,Ithink,forInowdrewnearhimagain.

    “Ifyouarehurt,andwanthelp,sir,IfeteoherfromThornfieldHallorfromHay.”

    “Thankyou:Ishalldo:Ihavenobrokenbones,—onlyasprain;”andagaioodupandtriedhisfoot,buttheresultextortedaninvoluntary“Ugh!”

    Somethingofdaylightstilllingered,andthemoonwaswaxingbright:Icouldseehimplainly.Hisfigurewasenvelopedinaridingcloak,furcollaredandsteelclasped;itsdetailswerenotapparent,butItracedthegeneralpointsofmiddleheightandsiderablebreadthofchest.Hehadadarkface,withsteruresandaheavybrow;hiseyesandgatheredeyebrowslookedirefulandthwartedjustnow;heastyouth,buthadnotreachedmiddle-age;perhapshemightbethirty-five.Ifeltnofearofhim,andbutlittleshyness.H