“Then you must wait a little longer till you get promoted for bravery in the field. You will be Captain Gray then, and then you can go to him, and look him full in the face, and smile at him as if you felt that he was no better than a worm, and ask him what he thinks of that.”
“What! Of my captain’s uniform, Punch?”
“No, I mean you smiling down at him as if he wasn’t worth your notice.”
“Ah, that sounds better, Punch.”
“Then, you think that will do?”
“Yes.”
“Then, now I will go to sleep.”
“Ah, and get better, Punch.”
“Oh yes, I am going to get better now.”
With a sigh of satisfaction, the boy closed his eyes, utterly exhausted, and lay breathing steadily and well, while Pen stood leaning over him waiting till he felt sure that the boy was asleep; and then, as he laid his hand lightly upon his patient’s brow, a sense of hopefulness came over him on feeling that he was cool and calm.