hehadonlyreceivedacutabovethetemple，andperhapsafewbruisesfromthefall，orthehoofsofhisownpony：thatcouldnotkillhimifhelaytherehalftheday；and，ifhecouldnothelphimself，surelysomeonewouldbecomingby：itwouldbeimpossiblethatawholedayshouldpassandnoonetraversetheroadbutourselves。Asforwhathemightchoosetosayhereafter，Iwouldtakemychanceaboutit：ifhetoldlies，Iwouldcontradicthim；ifhetoldthetruth，IwouldbearitasIbestcould。
Iwasnotobligedtoenterintoexplanations，furtherthanIthoughtproper。Perhapshemightchoosetobesilentonthesubject，forfearofraisingenquiriesastothecauseofthequarrel，anddrawingthepublicattentiontohisconnectionwithMrsGraham，which，whetherforhersakeorhisown，heseemedsoverydesiroustoconceal。
Thusreasoning，Itrottedawaytothetown，whereIdulytransactedmybusiness，andperformedvariouslittlecommissionsformymotherandRose，withverylaudableexactitude，consIderingthedifferentcircumstancesofthecase。Inreturninghome，IwastroubledwithsundrymisgivingsabouttheunfortunateLawrence。Thequestion，whatifIshouldfindhimlying，stillonthedampearth，fairlydyingofcoldandexhaustion——oralreadystarkandchill？thrustitselfmostunpleasantlyuponmymind，andtheappallingpossibilitypictureditselfwithpainfulvividnesstomyimaginationasIapproachedthespotwhereIhadlefthim。Butno；thankHeaven，bothmanandhorseweregone，andnothingwaslefttowitnessagainstmebuttwoobjects——unpleasantenoughinthemselves，tobesure，andpresentingaveryugly，nottosaymurderous，appearance——inoneplace，thehatsaturatedwithrainandcoatedwithmud，indentedandbrokenabovethebrimbythatvillainouswhip-handle；inanother，thecrimsonhandkerchief，soakinginadeeplytincturedpoolofwater——formuchrainhadfallenintheinterim。
Badnewsflyfast：itwashardlyfouro’clockwhenIgothome，butmymothergravelyaccostedmewith——
`Oh，Gilbert！——Suchanaccident！Rosehasbeenshoppinginthevillage，andshe’sheardthatMrLawrencehasbeenthrownfromhishorseandbroughthomedying！’