The Mysteries of Udolpho

St. Aubert, who instantly alighted and went to his assistance,

found him still sitting on his horse, but bleeding profusely, and

appearing to be in great pain, though he endeavoured to soften the

terror of St. Aubert by assurances that he was not materially hurt, the

wound being only in his arm. St. Aubert, with the muleteer, assisted him

to dismount, and he sat down on the bank of the road, where St. Aubert

tried to bind up his arm, but his hands trembled so excessively that he

could not accomplish it; and, Michael being now gone in pursuit of the

horse, which, on being disengaged from his rider, had galloped off,

he called Emily to his assistance. Receiving no answer, he went to the

carriage, and found her sunk on the seat in a fainting fit. Between the

distress of this circumstance and that of leaving Valancourt bleeding,

he scarcely knew what he did; he endeavoured, however, to raise her,

and called to Michael to fetch water from the rivulet that flowed by the

road, but Michael was gone beyond the reach of his voice. Valancourt,

who heard these calls, and also the repeated name of Emily, instantly

understood the subject of his distress; and, almost forgetting his own

condition, he hastened to her relief. She was reviving when he

reached the carriage; and then, understanding that anxiety for him had

occasioned her indisposition, he assured her, in a voice that trembled,

but not from anguish, that his wound was of no consequence.

While he said this St. Aubert turned round, and perceiving that he was still

bleeding, the subject of his alarm changed again, and he hastily formed

some handkerchiefs into a bandage. This stopped the effusion of the

blood; but St. Aubert, dreading the consequence of the wound, enquired

repeatedly how far they were from Beaujeu; when, learning that it was

at two leagues' distance, his distress increased, since he knew not how

Valancourt, in his present state, would bear the motion of the carriage,

and perceived that he was already faint from loss of blood. When he

mentioned the subject of his anxiety, Valancourt entreated that he would

not suffer himself to be thus alarmed on his account, for that he had no

doubt he should be able to support himself very well; and then he talked

of the accident as a slight one. The muleteer being now returned with

Valancourt's horse, assisted him into the chaise; and, as Emily was now

revived, they moved slowly on towards Beaujeu.

St. Aubert, when he had recovered from the terror occasioned him by this

accident, expressed surprise on seeing Valancourt, who explained

his unexpected appearance by saying, 'You, sir, renewed my taste for

society; when you had left the hamlet, it did indeed appear a solitude.

I determined, therefore, since my object was merely amusement, to change

the scene; and I took this road, because I knew it led through a more

romantic tract of mountains than the spot I have left. Besides,' added

he, hesitating for an instant, 'I will own, and why should I not? that I

had some hope of overtaking you.'