ou can't, when you might be out with Tavvy and Scood. I'd give
anything to go, and you must want to go, but you're such a good-hearted
old chap, to sit there and read for hours, and talk to a poor miserable
beggar who's never going to be well again."

"Why, you are getting on fast."

"No, I'm not. I'm sick of these jellies, and beef-teas, and slip-slops.
I want some beef, and salmon, and grouse pie, and to get strong again.
I say, Maxy, wasn't I a fool?"

Max was silent.

"You're too good a chap to say it, but you know it was just out of
bounce, and to show off, and it served me right. I say, you're not put
out at what I've been saying?"

"Not a bit."

"Call me a beast, and then I'll be satisfied."

"But I shouldn't be," said Max, laughing.

"Yes, do call me a beast, and forgive me. I don't mean it, for I do
like you, Maxy, honour bright!"

"I want you to like me," said the lad gravely.

"Well, I do. I'm as sorry as can be that I tried to frighten you, and
laughed at you. I've been sorry lots of times since I've been lying
here; and you will not take any notice of what I said?"

"Is it likely?" cried Max eagerly.

"Not with you, I suppose," said Kenneth thoughtfully; "but I'm afraid I
should think a lot about it."

"I shall not," said Max, "so say no more."

"Then let's talk about something else; it keeps me from thinking how
miserable and weak I am. I say, old Scood always pretended to be so
very fond of me; don't you think he might have come up and seen me?"

"You know he has always been trying."

"Oh, ah! so I do. I forgot."

"He climbed up to the window and got in one night."

"Scoody did? You never told me that."

"I never told anybody."

"And he got down again all safe? Why, it was more risky than climbing
up a rock. You tell him he must not do it again."

"I have told him."

"I'll ask my father to let him come up and see me, poor chap. He likes
me, you see, Max. I say, I am so dull and miserable, you might do one
thing for me."

"Yes: what shall I do?"

"Go and fetch the dogs. I want to see them."

Max nodded, and had reached the door, when Kenneth called him back.

"What is it?" said Max, staring, as he saw Kenneth's thin white hands
stretched out towards him, and a peculiar look on his face, which looked
the more strange from its having a long strapping of plaster across his
brow.

Kenneth made no reply, only held out his hand.

Max grasped his meaning, and ca