“I am sorry that you have met with so serious and so terrible an accident.”
There was no reply. Stockley put out his uninjured hand, but Roy did not take it. He felt that there was something in the character of the boy lying before him that was entirely antagonistic to his own character and disposition. They were the opposites of each other in almost everything. The one was animated with noble and generous impulses, with exalted ideals of life and duty and goodness. The other, as far as Roy had known him, was the antithesis of all this. Seeing that Stockley did not speak, he again made an attempt to open the conversation.
“The infirmarian tells me that you wish to say something to me.”
“Yes,” said the other in a low voice. He was really suffering a great deal of pain. “Yes, won't you all take chairs? Sit down, all of you.”
“Thanks, I prefer to stand,” said Roy, but the other two found seats.
“But it is rather a long story I have determined to tell. It will take some time.”
Roy sat down.
“That's right. It makes it easier for me to say what I am going to tell.”
Henning nodded his head, without venturing a reply.