“Well, Willie,” said Frank, “here I am at your request. What have you got to tell me; nothing serious, I hope?”
The stalwart fireman looked earnestly into his brother’s face, and exhibited more anxiety than there seemed to be any occasion for.
“No, nothing very serious. It may be serious enough for all I know; but as far as my knowledge goes it’s not bad enough to make you look so anxious. Why, what’s the matter with you?”
“Nothing, Willie. Perhaps my late accident has shaken my nerves a bit.”
Willie burst into a loud laugh, and said that it was so awfully absurd to hear a man like Frank talking of nerves at all that he could not help it.
“Well, but what is the news you’ve got to tell me?” resumed Frank. “You’re not going to be married, are you?”
Frank asked this with a look and expression so peculiar that Willie again laughed and said that really he could not understand him at all; for even suppose he had been going to be married, that was no reason why he should take it so much to heart, as the expression on his face implied he did.
“Perhaps not, Willie,” said Frank with a quiet smile; “but that is not what you want to speak about, then?”
“No, certainly not.”
Frank appeared relieved, and Willie, observing the appearance, said—