"'Will he live, doctor?'
"'Live! yes, if he has plenty of good nursing.'
"'He'll want for naething here, puir laddie, that we can gie him. Ech, sir, but I'm thankful.'
"My young nurse was not there, so I slept for a time, and when I awoke she sat there again.
"'May I talk just a little?'
"'Yes, just a little,' she said. 'Tell me,' she added, 'who your people are, because ye ken they must be told?'
"'Plenty of time. Plenty of time,' I murmured.
"Then bit by bit I told her all my story.
"'I would rather,' I said, 'my mother knew nothing till I am up and about.'
"'But will she not be——'