"John Carr-a slip of the tongue on my part, stopped in time. I hear my mentor returning-and-Miles!"
"Well?"
"Come again!"
"Come again! My dear boy, ye'll be sick of the sight of me soon! I shall be here every day."
"Thanks! It will take a good deal to sicken me, I think." He bit his lip, turning his head away as Miss Betty came into the room.
"I'm afraid that you ought to leave my patient now, Sir Miles," she said. "He has had enough excitement for one day, and should sleep."
She glanced at the averted head inquiringly. "I doubt he is tired?"
Jack turned and smiled at her.
"No, Miss Betty, I'm not. But I know you will refuse to believe me."
"My dear boy, do you know you have black lines beneath your eyes?"
"More remarks about my face!" he sighed, and glanced at O'Hara, who had risen.
"You are quite right, Miss Beauleigh, I must go. May I come again to-morrow?"
"Surely," she beamed. "We shall be delighted to welcome you."
O'Hara bent over the bed.
"Then au revoir, Jack. My lady sent her love to her 'Cousin Harry'-the saucy puss!"
"Did she? How prodigious kind of her, Miles! And you'll give her mine, and kiss her-"
"Yes?" said O'Hara with dangerous calm. "I'll kiss her what?"
"Her hand for me!" ended Carstares, bubbling over. "Good-bye, and thank you-"
"That will suffice!" said Miles, cutting him short.
He bowed to Miss Betty and left the room.
The business-like little lady fluttered over to the bedside and rearranged the pillows.
"Well, and are you satisfied?"
"Madam, most extraordinarily so, I thank you. I shall be getting up soon."
"H'm!" was all she vouchsafed, and left him to his meditations.
As she had foreseen, he dozed a little, but his shoulder would not allow him to sleep. He lay in a semi-comatose condition, his eyes shut, and a deep furrow, telling of pain, between his brows.
The sound of a shutting door made him open his eyes; he turned his head slightly and saw that Jim Salter was standing in the middle of the room looking at him anxiously.
My lord returned his gaze crossly, and Jim waited for the storm to break.
Carstares' heart melted, and he managed to smile.
"I'm monstrous glad to see you, Jim," he said.
"You-you can't mean that, sir! 'Twas I left your pistols unloaded."
"I know. Damned careless of you, but it's the sort of thing I should do myself, after all."
Jim advanced to the bedside.
"Do you mean you forgive me, sir?"
"Why, of course! I could not have fired on my best friend in any case."