"Bad," said the captain, closing his eyes. "Every bone in my body is broken, I believe. It feels like it."
Mrs. Willett shook her head and sought for words to reassure him. "Keep your spirits up," she said, encouragingly. "Don't forget that: 'There's a sweet little cherub that sits up aloft to look after the life of poor Jack.'"
Captain Sellers opened his eyes and regarded her fixedly. "He wouldn't ha' been sitting there long if that fool Martha had been holding the steps," he said, with extraordinary bitterness.
He closed his eyes again and refused to speak until the doctor came. Then, having been stripped and put to bed for purposes of examination, he volunteered information as to his condition which twice caused the doctor to call him to order.
"You ought to be thankful it's no worse," he said, severely.
The captain sniffed. "When you've done pinching my leg," he said, disagreeably, "I'll put it back into bed again."
The doctor relinquished it at once, and, standing by the bed, regarded him thoughtfully.
"Well, you've had a shock," he said at last, "and you had better stay in bed for a few days."
"Not here," said Mrs. Willett, quickly. "My daughter and her husband will be home in a day or two."
The doctor looked thoughtful again; then he bent and spoke in the captain's ear.