Part 77 (1/2)

And this seemed true; for the wheels went round very, very slowly in those days. Lucas Errol came back to life, urged by a vitality not his own, and the Shadow of Death still lingered in his eyes.

He did not suffer very greatly, and he slept as he had not slept for years, but his progress was slow, sometimes imperceptible. The languor of intense weakness hung like a leaden weight upon him. The old brave cheeriness had given place to a certain curious wistfulness. He seemed too weary for effort, content at all times to sleep the hours away.

Yet when Capper demanded effort he yielded without protest. He did his best, and he smiled at each evidence of returning powers.

”I guess it's just an almighty success, doctor,” he would say. ”And you've given me sleep into the bargain. It's blessed to be able to sleep.

I've a good many years of arrears to make up.”

On the day that Capper and Nap set him on his feet for the first time, his weakness was such that he fainted; but he recovered and apologised, and would even have faced the ordeal again had Capper permitted it. On the following day he went through it without a tremor, and slept thereafter for hours, scarcely rousing himself for nourishment.

It was during that sleep that Nap left him, went out into the spring woods, and remained absent for some time. Lucas was still sleeping when he returned, and after a brief look at him he moved away into the adjoining room and prowled to and fro there waiting.

At the first sound of his brother's voice he was back by the bedside.

Lucas smiled a welcome. ”I'm better,” he said, and held up a weak hand.

It was the first time he had made the a.s.sertion. Nap took the hand and laid it gently down.

”You'll get well now,” he said.

The heavy drowsiness was less apparent than usual on Lucas's face. ”I don't know where I'd be without you, Boney,” he said. ”Do you know you're looking awfully ill?”

”Shucks!” said Nap.

But Lucas continued his criticism undeterred.

”You've spent too much of yourself on me, and I've been too d.a.m.ned selfish to notice. I'm going to wake up now, Boney. I'm going to play the game. You've been playing my hand as well as your own till now. I'm going to relieve you of that.”

”Hear, hear!” said Nap.

”You'll go to bed in your own room to-night,” said Lucas, ”go to bed and to sleep. In the morning we'll have a talk.”

But when the morning came, his energy had flagged a little. He had not slept as well as usual, and though he had no pain he seemed disinclined for physical effort.

”I want a holiday to-day,” he said to Capper. ”Just let in the suns.h.i.+ne and leave me to bask.”

There had been a spell of cold and sunless weather, but that day the sun shone gloriously. The genial warmth of it came in through the open window and flooded the room with the very essence of spring.

”I'm going to take a day off and enjoy it,” smiled Lucas. ”You take a day off too, doctor. Make the mater go out in the car. I shall do wonders to-morrow after a good laze to-day.”

Capper looked him over keenly, pulled his beard, cracked his fingers, and yielded. ”Guess a rest won't do you any harm. There's no reason to hustle you any that I can see.”

And Lucas spent the whole morning basking in the suns.h.i.+ne in almost unbroken silence. He did not sleep at all. His eyes, remote and thoughtful, were for the most part watching the specks that danced and floated in the rays of light that streamed across his bed.

Nap forebore to disturb him, but he remained within call. He knew with sure intuition that sooner or later Lucas would summon him. Almost he knew what he would say.

The call came at last, very quiet and deliberate. ”Boney!”

Instantly Nap presented himself.