“Doctor—Doctor,” she cried, “is he—will he——”
“I think,” said the doctor, “we can have him on his feet in a week, slightly damaged, of course.”
“And I thought—I thought you would die,” she said.
“Die!” Evan Pell’s voice, weak and faint, nevertheless carried a note of surprise. “Er—of course not. I had not the slightest intention—of dying.” He fumbled for her hand. “Why my dear—I have—just come to—life.”
“You would have given your life for me!... Oh, Evan, I love you! ... and I’m so—so proud of you.”
“Er—very gratifying,” said Evan. Then, for a moment he was silent, reflecting.
“It is—very satisfying to—be in love,” he said. “I—like it.” Then. “I want you to—be proud—of me.” He smiled. “There’s just—one thing—I am proud of.”
“What is that, sweetheart?”
“The—er—way I—handled that doorknob—with so little practice,” he said. “It was—er—so foreign to my training.... It—showed adaptability....”
THE END