The nurse put out her hand.
“Hang it!” said Mr. Prescott. “I was a brute. Can you ever forgive me, Billy?”
“Sure, sir,” answered Billy.
His voice sounded so strong that the nurse told Mr. Prescott that she was afraid he was exciting the patient.
Billy said, “Please stay.”
Then the nurse told Mr. Prescott that he might stay ten minutes if he wouldn’t talk to the patient.
Billy tried to smile at Mr. Prescott, but he was so tired that he shut his eyes instead.
Next time it was Uncle John who was holding his hand, but Uncle John didn’t smile.
“Uncle John,” said Billy, “what’s the matter with me?”
“Just a few broken bones, Billy, my lad,” answered Uncle John.