Part 31 (2/2)

”Fifty a day! Of course, it's appalling.”

”Well, you're going to be a good boy now, a perfect angel. Here you are, here are three cigarettes for you. And you're going to have a sweet-bread for lunch and I'm going to cook it for you myself!”

”Dear old dear!”

”Yes, I am. And Tumpany wants to see you. Will you see him? Dr. Morton Sims won't be here for another half hour.”

”Yes, I'll have Tumpany up. Best chap I know, Tumpany is. But why's the doctor coming? My head's healed up all right now.”

There was a whimsical note in his voice as he asked the question.

”You know, darling! He wants to have a long talk with you.”

”Apropos of the reformation stakes I suppose.”

”To give you back your wonderful brain in peace, darling!” she answered, bending down, catching him to her breast in her sweet arms.

”... Gillie! Gillie! I love you so!”

”And now suppose you send up Tumpany, dear.”

”Yes, at once.”

She went away, smiling and kissing her hand, hoping with an intensity of hope which burned within her like a flame, that when the doctor came and talked to Gilbert as had been arranged, the past might be wiped out and a new life begun in this quiet village of East England.

In a minute there was a knock at the bedroom door.

”Come in,” Gilbert called out.

Tumpany entered.

Upon the red face of that worthy person there was a grin of sheer delight as he made his bow and sc.r.a.pe.

Then he held up his right arm. He was grasping a leash of mallard, and the metallic blue-green and white upon the wings of the ducks shone in the sun.

Gilbert leapt in his bed, and then put his hand to his bandaged head with a half groan.--”Good G.o.d!” he cried, ”how the deuce did you get those?”

”First of August, sir. Wildfowling begins!”

”Heavens! so it is. I ought to have been out! I never thought about the date. d.a.m.n you for pitching me out of the dog-cart, William!”

”Yessir! You've told me so before,” Tumpany answered, his face reflecting the smile upon his master's.

”What are they, flappers?”

”No, sir, mature birds. I was out on the marshes before daylight. The birds were coming off the meils--and North Creake flat. First day since February, sir! You know what I was feeling like!”

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