The rider gazed, stupefied.

Then a faint tinge of red colored his ghastly cheeks.
"A girl! ...

Why--why 'scuse me, miss.

I--I took you--for a boy." He seemed so astounded, he looked so ashamed, so scared, and withal, so haggard and weak, that Lucy immediately recovered her equanimity.
"Sure I'm a girl.

But that's no matter....