"Of course," murmured Benjamin Wright, "if I g-get well, it needn't

hold, you know."

After that he seemed to sleep a little, until, his eyes still closed,

he said, "The boy slapped my face. So it's all right."

Samuel started up from his chair at the bedside, shocked and

protesting.

"Gad-a-mercy!" said Benjamin Wright, fretfully, opening his eye and

looking at him--"that makes us square! Don't you see?"

There was a long silence. Once Dr. Lavendar spoke to him, and once

William King touched his wrist, but he seemed to sleep. Then abruptly,

and quite clearly, he spoke: "'Crito, I owe a cock to Aesculapius'.... Lavendar?"

"Yes, Benjamin?"

"The debt is paid. Hey? I got the receipt."

"He is wandering," said Samuel. "Father, what do you want?"

But he did not speak again.




readonlinefreebook.com Copyright 2016 - 2024