"They said it was consumption."
"Oh, did they say that?"
"Yes, but they don't mean that I'm going to die. They said they hoped they could patch me up; people often live for years with only half a lung, and it is only the left one that's gone."
He coughed slightly and wiped the blood from his lips. Esther was quite overcome.
"Now, don't look like that," he said, "or I shall fancy I'm going to die to-morrow."
"They said they thought that they could patch you up?"
"Yes; they said I might go on a long while yet, but that I would never be the man I was."
This was so obvious she could not check a look of pity.
"If you're going to look at me like that I'd sooner go into the hospital at once. It ain't the cheerfulest of places, but it will be better than here."
"I'm sorry it was consumption. But if they said they could patch you up, it will be all right. It was a great deal for them to say."