It was Edward lying there motionless, and with a face like that of a
corpse.

With an agonized cry, Zoe dropped on her knees at his side, and pressed
her lips passionately to his.

There was no response, no movement, not the quiver of an eyelid; and
she lifted her grief-stricken face to that of the doctor, with a look of
anguished inquiry in the beautiful eyes fit to move a heart of stone.

"I do not despair of him yet, dear cousin Zoe," Arthur said in a low,
moved tone. "I lave found no external injury, and it may be that he is
only stunned."

The words had scarcely left his lips when Edward drew a sighing breath,
and opened his eyes, glancing up into Zoe's face bending over Mm in
deepest, tenderest solicitude.

"Ah, love! is it you?" he murmured faintly, and with a smile. "Where am
I? What has happened?"

"O Ned! dear, _dear_ Ned! I thought you were killed!" she sobbed,
covering his face with kisses and tears.

"There has been an accident, and you got a blow that stunned you,"
answered the doctor; "but I think you are all right now, or will be
soon."

"An accident!" Edward repeated, with a bewildered look, and putting his
hand to his head. "What was it?"