He ran
towards her, asking as he came:
"What's the matter?"
"My hand," she faltered. "I've caught the hook in it."
"Poor dear! Let me look."
"Please do something. It hurts," she urged, as she put out her hand,
which was torn by the cruel hook.
"What an excellent catch! But, all the same, I must get it out at
once," he remarked, as he produced a pocket knife.
"With that?" she asked tremulously.
"I won't hurt you more than I can help, you may be sure. But it must
come out at once, or you'll get a bad go of blood poisoning."
"Do it as quickly as possible," she urged.
She set her lips, while he cut into the soft white flesh.
However much he hurt her, she resolved not to utter a sound. For all
her fortitude, the trifling operation pained her much.
"Brave little Mavis!" he said, as he freed her flesh from the hook,
to ask, as she did not speak, "Didn't it hurt?"
"Of course it did. See how it's bleeding!"
"All the better. It will clear the poison out."
Mavis was hurt at the indifference he exhibited to her pain.
"Would you please tie my handkerchief round it?" she asked.
"Let it bleed. What are you thinking of?"
"I want to get back.
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