“I—Nothing. It's a phrase.”
“What do you mean? Answer me!”
“It's a phrase,” he said again; “no meaning, you know.”
“Stephen, Mr. Plank says that you are lame.”
“What did he say that for?” demanded Siward wrathfully.
“I asked him. Kemp saw you on crutches at your window. So I asked Mr. Plank, and he said you had discarded your crutches too soon and had fallen and lamed yourself again. Are you able to walk yet?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Outdoors?”
“A—no, not just yet.”
“In other words, you are practically bedridden.”