“Eh, little man?” asked the doctor again, waiting for his answer.
“I know—I know you always tell me what you think is true,” he said at last.
The doctor wouldn’t notice how he shaped what he said, and went on.
“Good. Do you remember I told you once there was a place in the world and a share in it for you, the same as for anyone else? Well, I told you the truth, and it is just as true to-day as it was then, but there’s a battle to share in, as well as a kingdom. We’ve each got to take our place in the ranks, little man, and you with the rest, and you’ve got some fighting to do that doesn’t come to all of us for each one has his own. As a general thing you’ve got to fight this old pain of yours I’m afraid. I hoped it was sent where it would never find its way back, but I’m afraid now we shall have more or less of it in the way, for a good many years. And you’ll have to fight with feeling tired and ill a good deal, while you see others well and strong; and you’ll have to remember that you are small and crooked while you see them tall and straight. And you will have to know that every one who looks at you for the first time will notice this, though those who know you will never think of it, unless to be sorry.
“Do you think you can step right into the ranks and meet all this like a brave soldier, remembering that you are serving the King and the Elder Brother? Never mind about answering just now; you can think about it awhile, and remember he has not set you to do this without providing you with weapons. He has given you a nature that can make every one love you, and a brain that can make every one respect you, and can enable you to leave half the rest of the world behind in anything you undertake; and I promise you you’ll get stronger, and find yourself richer, every day you carry on the fight, like a brave little man as you are.”
The fight began then and there! Must he, could he go out into the world again? Must he let any one but the doctor and Joan look at him? must he hear what any one might choose to say? He had thought he could never open the doctor’s door again, never see a boy of his own age, never see any one. But if it was serving the King and the Elder Brother! If they wished it! And if they would think he were a coward or a shirk if he didn’t come up!
There isn’t sharper fighting on many a battle-field, than went on in the corner of Creepy’s lounge that day; but it was too sharp to last long, and he was too brave a little soldier to lose the battle; and when Joan opened the door for Aleck the next morning, a voice, not very strong to be sure, but clear and true, called from the little room at the head of the stairs, “Ask him to come in, please.”
“Come, then,” said Joan, only too gladly, and Aleck sprang up the stairs and pushed open the door which stood a little ajar.
Creepy’s courage had almost left him again, by that time. What if he should say anything about that day?