"Because men who are mortally hurt are more pious; if they wanted to say a bad word they would not do it. Thank you."
Lawrence smiled.
"I could cheer your heart still more," he answered, "for there are a lot of bad words just galloping to be said."
Prudence did not reply. She turned to Leander, and asked if Mr. Lawrence had been conversing like this, and had he been shamming when they had first found him.
At this Lawrence groaned. After a few moments the boy and woman assisted him to rise. He leaned heavily on them, but seemed to improve somewhat.
"I don't think you've done much more than break a few ribs and a collar-bone or so," said the girl, cheerfully.
"And p'raps concussed your brain a bit," added Leander, whose spirits were rising rapidly.
"There comes the cart," announced Prudence. "It hasn't any springs, but I didn't know but you were past minding springs. I did insist on a mattress being put in; only it isn't a mattress, but a feather bed."
Lawrence groaned again.
"That's right," she said; "don't suffer in silence."