“What? Because I told him not to fire?”
“You told him not to fire?” ejaculated James.
Arthur leant back and shaded his eyes with his hand.
“I don’t think I’ll talk about it now,” he said gently. “I must tell them by-and-by. But it is nothing—nothing that you fancy.”
“But Hugh should be there?”
“Of course he should. I can’t remember anything about him,” he added, after a moment, “except that I pulled him out of the water.”
“Don’t talk now, my dear boy,” said Jem, as Arthur’s voice failed. “It will soon be over, and Hugh will surely come.”
“Jem!”
“Yes?”
“I know it is true now. Don’t let me forget and get confused again. I feel so stupid.” Then, after a moment: “Let me go and see her.”