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〃Oh； do stop them； quick；〃 she gasped； clinging to his hand as if
he were her only hope； 〃and I'll never forget your kindoh； merciful
heaven！〃
At this favorable moment； when the horses were fast coming under
control； a spiteful cur came tearing out after them； renewing their
panic with tenfold intensity。 As the dog barked on one side they
sheered off on the other； until they plunged down the side of the
road。 The stage was nearly overturned； and then it stopped with
a sudden and heavy thump。 Miss Mayhew was precipitated into Mr。
Van Berg's arms； and she clung to him for a moment in a paroxysm of
terror。 His wits had not so far deserted him but that he perceived
that the stage had struck against a tree； that the horses had broken
away； and that he and his companion were perfectly safe。 If the
whole truth must be told； it cannot be said that he endured the
young lady's embrace with only cold and stoical philosophy。 He
found it wholly novel and not a painful experience。 Indeed he was
conscious of a temptation to delay the information of their escape；
but a second's thought taught him that he must at once employ all
his tact in the delicate and difficult task of reconciling the
frightened girl to herself and her own conduct； otherwise her pride；
and also her sense of delicacy； would now receive a new and far
deeper wound； and a more hopeless estrangement follow。 He therefore
promptly lifted her up； and placed her limp form on the opposite
seat。
〃I assure you we are now perfectly safe； Miss Mayhew；〃 he said；
〃and let me congratulate you that your self…control prevented you
from leaving the stage； for if you had done so you would undoubtedly
have been greatly injured。〃
〃Wherewhere arethe horses？〃 she faltered。
〃I really do not know！ They have disappeared。 The stage struck
a tree； and the brutes broke away。 They will probably gallop home
to the alarm and excitement of every one about the hotel。 Pray
compose yourself。 The house is not far away； and we can soon reach
it if you are not very much hurt。〃
〃Are you sure the danger is all over？〃
〃Yes； this is now not the slightest chance of a tragedy。〃
There must have been a faint twinkle in his eye； for she exclaimed；
passionately：
〃The whole thing has been a comedy to you； and I half believe you
brought it all about to annoy me。〃
〃You do me great injustice； Miss Mayhew；〃 said Van Berg； warmly。
〃Here we are sitting in this horrid old stage by the roadside；〃
she resumed； in tones of strong vexation。 〃Was there ever anything
more absurd and ridiculous than it has all been！ I am mortified
beyond expression； and suppose I shall never hear the last of it；〃
and she burst into a hysterical passion of tears。
〃Miss Mayhew；〃 said Van Berg hastily； 〃you certainly must realize
that we have passed through very great peril together； and if you
think me capable of saying a word about this episode that is not
to your credit； you were never more mistaken in your life。〃
At this assurance she became more calm。
〃I know you dislike me most heartily；〃 Van Berg continued； 〃but
you have less reason to do so than you think…〃
〃I have good reason to dislike you。 You despise me； and now that
I have been such a coward you are comparing me with Miss Burton
who acted so differently yesterday。〃
〃I have not even thought of Miss Burton；〃 protested Van Berg； at
the same time conscious； now that her name had been recalled to his
memory； that she would have acted a much better part。 〃I am only
sincerely glad that our necks were not broken； and I hope that you
have not suffered any severe bruises。 As to my despising you； if
you will honor me with your acquaintance you may discover that you
are greatly in error。〃
〃Then you truly think that we have been in danger？〃 she asked；
wiping her eyes。
〃Most assuredly。 When you come to think the matter over calmly；
you will realize that we were in very great danger。 I think the
affair has ended most happily rather than absurdly。〃
〃Really； sir； when I remember how the 'affair；' as you term it；
actually did end； I feel as if I never wished to see you again。〃
〃Miss Mayhew； I appeal to your generosity。 Was I to blame for
that which was so disagreeable to you？ Surely you will not be so
unfair as to punish me for what neither you nor I could help。 I
think fate means we shall be friends； and has employed this unexpected
episode to break the ice between us。 If you are now sufficiently
composed I will assist you to alight； in order that the driver；
who is approaching； may be relieved of all fears on our account。〃
〃Oh； certainly。 As it is； I suppose he will have a ridiculous
story to tell。〃
〃There is nothing that he； or the others who are following him can
tell； save that the horses ran away and that we most fortunately
escaped all injury。 Ah！ I see that you are a little lame。 Please
take my arm； the hotel is but a quarter of a mile away。 Or perhaps
you would prefer that I should send the driver for a carriage。 You
could wait in yonder cottage； or here； in the shade of the trees。〃
〃I am not very lame； and if I were I would not mind it。 My wish is
that the horrid affair may occasion as little remark as possible。
I can reach my room by a side entrance； and so come quietly down
to dinner。 I suppose that I must take your arm since I cannot walk
very well without it。〃
They therefore turned their backs on the breathless driver and his
eager questions； and proceeded slowly towards the hotel。 After a
brief examination of the shattered stage； the man ran panting past
them in search of his horses； and they were again left alone。
Chapter X。 Phrases too Suggestive。
For a few moments Miss Mayhew and Van Berg walked on in silence；
each very doubtful of the other。 At last the artist began：
〃I am well aware； Miss Mayhew； that this unexpected episode and
this enforced companionship give me no rights whatever。 I do not
propose to annoy you； after seeing you safely to the hotel； by
assuming that we are acquainted； nor do I intend to subject myself
to the mortification of being informed publicly； by your manner；
that we are not on speaking terms。 I would be glad to have this
question settled now。 I ask your pardon for anything that I may
have said or done to hurt your feelings； and having thus gone more
than half…way it would be ungenerous on your part not to respond
in like spirit。〃
〃You apologize； then？〃
〃No； I ask your pardon for anything that may have hurt your feelings。〃
〃You have said very disagreeable things about me； Mr。 Van Berg。〃
〃I did not know you then。〃
〃I do not think you have changed your opinion of me in the least。〃
〃I evidently have a much higher opinion of you than you of me； and
I am seeking your acquaintance with a persistence such as I never
manifested in the case of any other lady。 Thus the odds are all
in your favor。 Having been so unexpectedly thrown together…〃
〃'Thrown together；' indeedMr。 Van Berg； you ARE mocking me；〃 and
her eyes again filled with tears of vexation。
〃I assure you I am not；〃 said Van Berg earnestly。 〃I could not be
so mean as to twit you with an accident which you could not help；
and with an act which was wholly involuntary on your part。 Can we
not both let by…gones by by…gones and commence anew？〃
Miss Mayhew bit her lip and hesitated a few moments。
〃I think that will be the better way；〃 she said。 〃We will both let
by…gones； especially this ridiculous episode in the stage。 I'll
put you on your good behavior。〃
〃Thank you； Miss Mayhew。 I would take our late risk twenty times
for such a result。〃
〃I would not take it again on any account whatever。 Please refer
to it no more。 I declare； there comes Cousin Ik and Mr。 Burleigh
to meet us。 Was one's fortune ever so exasperating！ Ik will teaze
me out of all comfort for weeks to come。〃
〃Say little and leave all to my discretion；〃 said Van Berg； reassuringly；
〃and； by the way； you might limp a little more decidedly；〃 which
she immediately did。
〃My dear Miss Mayhew； I trust you are not seriously hurt；〃 began
Mr。 Burleigh while still several yards off。
Stanton's face was a study as he approached。 Indeed he seemed half
ready to explode with suppressed merriment； but before he could
speak a warning glance from Van Berg checked him。
〃Miss Mayhew might have been seriously and possibly fatally injured；〃
said the artist gravely； 〃had it not been for her self…control。
Although it seemed that the stage would be dashed to pieces every
moment； I told her that in my judgement it would be safer to remain
within it than to spring out upon the hard and stony road； and I
am very glad that the final event confirmed my opinion。〃
As they were by this time near to the hotel； others who