“You know he was with me when the accident happened?” I said, by way of explanation.
“Oh,” said Jack. “Hullo! here comes Billy. I hope, you won’t be horrified to have him to look after you while I’m at the office. He’s the only person I could think of.”
“Billy and I are very good friends,” I said, somewhat taken aback, however, by the prospect of being consigned to that young gentleman’s charge for several hours every day.
“Here you are, Billy,” said Jack, as the boy entered. “You needn’t have brought your blacking-box with you, though.”
“What, ain’t none of the blokes here got no boots, then?” remarked the youth, depositing his burden.
“The bloke, as you call him, who lies there,” said Jack, pointing to me, “won’t be putting on his boots for a good many days yet.”
Billy approached my bed with his most profuse grin.
“I say, ain’t you been and done it? Do you hear? you’ve broke your arm!”
This piece of news being so remarkably unexpected visibly affected me.
“Yes,” said Jack, “and I want you to sit here while I’m away, and see nobody breaks it again.”