"It's not the spear wound? Nurse says that's all right."
"Oh, the spear wound was nothing—beyond being painful at first. You see, when Conqueror threw you, you fell on an outcrop of ironstone, and that is what has given you the real trouble." She forced a smile. "You know, you can't bounce about on ledges of rock as if you were india-rubber!"
He was silent a moment, and then spoke suddenly; and there was terror in his eyes.
"Mother—my back isn't broken?"
"No!" she said quickly.
"You'd tell me—straight?"
"On my honour, Dick."
He heaved a big sigh.
"I've been wondering ... lying here," he said, "I'd heard about fellows with broken backs, and I do feel so queer and helpless. Of course I knew I couldn't get well all in a hurry; but I thought it was about time I could move my legs."
He looked at her with the absolute trust that all his life she had seen in his eyes. Twice she tried to speak before words would come.