with terror.

"You've frightened him," she said. "I won't have him frightened."

She didn't really believe that John was going. He went slowly, still
ashamed, and stopped again and waited for her.

"Come back," she said, "this minute, and pick up that stretcher
and get on."

"I tell you it isn't good enough."

"Oh, go then, if you're such a damned coward, and send Mac to me.
Or Trixie."

"They'll have gone."

He was walking backwards, his face set towards the turn of the road.

"Come on, you little fool. You can't carry him."

"I can. And I shall, if Mac doesn't come."

"You'll be taken," he shouted.

"I don't care. If I'm taken, I'm taken. I shall carry him on my back."

While John still went backwards she thought: It's all right. If he sees
I'm not coming he won't go. He'll come back to the stretcher.