Part 10 (2/2)
”But the car?”
”Got off,” d.i.c.k replied in a strained tone.
Andrew spoke quickly.
”You'd better come and let us see if your face is badly cut.”
They entered the hotel, but d.i.c.k stopped as they were pa.s.sing the bar.
”We've all had a shock,” he said; ”and if you feel you'd like a drink, don't mind me. You needn't be afraid of setting me a bad example--I don't want anything.”
Andrew smiled.
”Nor do I. Sometimes you're a very thoughtful fellow, d.i.c.k.”
CHAPTER VIII
THE _ROWAN'S_ LIGHT
d.i.c.k's cuts were not deep and he joined his companions at supper. One of the windows was open and the smell of peat smoke came in, while the noise of Ewes water running down the glen mingled pleasantly with the bleating of sheep. The room, however, was illuminated by electric light and a row of sepia drawings hung on the wall.
”There's something distinctive about the Border,” Whitney remarked; ”but there's one thing that strikes me. In old English cities--Chester, for example--there are streets that look as they did in Queen Elizabeth's reign; but the Scottish towns you've shown me might have been built forty years ago.”
Andrew smiled.
”The reason lies in our national character. We're utilitarian and don't allow sentiment to interfere with progress. As soon as a building gets out of date, we pull it down. Our past lives in the race's memory and we don't need to keep it embodied in stone.”
He turned to d.i.c.k, who had been unusually quiet.
”It's lucky you didn't get worse hurt. Did you see the car's number?”
d.i.c.k hesitated a moment.
”No-o. The plate was covered with mud.”
”But there has been no rain,” Whitney objected. ”I was near the gate when the driver swerved, and I couldn't see any reason for his doing so.”
”He may not have noticed the loose stones until he was close to them, and then lost control of the steering because he was startled; or perhaps the wheels skidded on the loose metal,” Andrew suggested.
”It's curious,” Whitney persisted, ”because if the fellow's nerve had given way he would have gone over the motorcycle and into the gate.
Anyhow, he didn't lose control, because he straightened her up the moment Andrew threw you back.”
”His nerve did not give way,” said d.i.c.k.
Andrew looked hard at him.
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