"Yes; so I understand. Too bad, poor fellow."
"And I did it!"
"Don't blame yourself. You were not to blame for what happened. You were led directly into the mistake of putting too much water on the cinders. When is the doctor going to let you go home?"
"He said perhaps I could go in the morning, but I'm all right. I could go home now, just as well as not. I want to go back to the mill and go to work in the morning."
"No need of that. I don't think either of us will start in to-morrow."
"What? Not start in? What do you mean?"
"Never mind now. We will talk about it when you get home."
"Look here, Steve Rush, something has been going on that I don't know anything about. What is it?"
"Don't bother about asking questions. I shouldn't have excited your curiosity," answered Steve, laughing to cover his chagrin at having let the words slip out. "I'll tell you what we'll do; we will take our lunches and go down the river to-morrow for a picnic, if you are able. After you have rested up for a day perhaps you will feel able to go to work."