“No, sir, you may not suggest. There is far too much ‘suggesting’ here. I take no suggestions from my subordinates.”
CHAPTER VII.
THE OLD ORDER CHANGES.
It was late when Brian Delany found his way to Mrs Gibbons’s bungalow, so late that the good lady herself—pardonably weary after a long hot afternoon spent in looking up or improvising hospital equipment in the company of surgeons ignorant of the limited resources of the place—had begun to hint that invalids did well to go to bed early. But when he was heard dismounting at the verandah steps, she gave up her efforts in despair, contenting herself, as she took her departure, with the threat that if Brian stayed more than half an hour, she would get up again and come and turn him out. Eveleen hardly heard her, so much engrossed was she in greeting her brother.
“Well, Brian?” sitting up eagerly as he came in.
“Well, old Evie!” he stooped and kissed her. “Been more than a little bit seedy—eh?”
“Ah, what do I signify? Let me look at you, Brian. D’ye know, I believe you’re—grown!”
“Will you listen to the woman! Grown, am I? Grown thin, my dear, till you could count the bones of me!”
“Nonsense, then! You look far too well for that. But I do see, indeed—yes, there’s a look of hardness——”
“Hardness about me, would you say? No, indeed, but plenty about the little old horror you went and handed me over to! Little I thought ’twas a slave I was to be, when you blarneyed me into trying to get into the General’s family.”
“Sure it’s all for your good. You look twice the boy you did—twice the man, I’d say.”