Jack went softly out and turned his steps toward the room of the other wreck.
“Well, how are stocks to-day?” he asked cheerfully on entering.
Burnett was stretched out pillowless and looked black under his hollow eyes. But he appeared to be on the road to recovery.
“Jack,” he said seriously, “what in thunder makes me always so ready to go on the water? I should think after a while I’d learn a thing or two.”
Jack leaned his elbows on the high carved footboard and returned his friend’s look with one of equal seriousness.
“What makes all of us do lots of things?” he asked. “Why don’t we all learn?”
Burnett sighed.
“That’s a fact; why don’t we?” he said weakly. And then he shut his eyes again and turned his back to his caller.
Jack went down to lunch. Clover and Mitchell were playing cards in the library.
“Well, how is the hospital?” Clover asked, looking up while he shuffled the pack.