“O, I hope so, Jim,” Laura answered quickly.
“But you ain’t sure. Jack wasn’t sure, but he guessed they would.” Jim pondered a while in silence, then he broke out again, “Seems to me the only way is for me to get this leg cured. I can’t be shut out of things always just ’cause of that, can I now, Miss Laura?”
“Nothing can shut you out of the best things, Jim.”
The boy looked up at her, tipping his round head till he reminded her of an uncommonly wise sparrow. “I don’t quite know what you mean,” he said in a doubtful tone.
“You like stories of men who have done splendid brave things, don’t you?” Laura asked.
Jim nodded, his eyes searching her face.
“But some of the bravest men have never been able to fight or do the things you love to hear about.”
“How did they be brave then?” Jim demanded.
“They were brave because they endured very, very hard things and never whimpered.”
“What’s whimpered?”