with a
small one close by, which I mean to reserve for my better-class
patients.--Here, you two," he said to the injured privates lying upon a
couple of charpoys, "I've brought you some visitors."

Sergeant Gee's wife, whose services had been enlisted as first nurse,
rose from her chair, where she was busy with her needle, to curtsey to
the visitors; and Gedge uttered a low groan as he caught up the light
cotton coverlet and threw it over his head.

"Look at him," said the Doctor merrily, and he snatched the coverlet
back. "Why, you vain peacock of a fellow, who do you think is going to
notice the size of your head?"

"I, for one," said Bracy, smiling. "Why, Gedge, it is nothing like so
big as it was."

The lad looked at him as if he doubted his words.

"Ain't it, sir? Ain't it really?"

"Certainly not."

"Hoo-roar, then! who cares? If it isn't so big now it's getting better,
'cos it was getting bigger and bigger last night--warn't it, sir?"

"Yes," said the Doctor; "but the night's rest and the long sleep gave
the swelling time to subside."

"The which, please, sir."

"The long sleep," said the Doctor tartly.

"Please, sir, I didn't get no long sleep."

"Nonsense, man!"

"Well, you ask him, sir. I never went to sleep--did I, pardner?"

"No," said his wounded companion. "We was talking all night when we
wasn't saying _Hff_! or _Oh_! or _Oh dear_! or _That's a stinger_!--
wasn't we, Gedge, mate?"

"That's right, pardner. But it don't matter, sir--do it?--not a bit, as
the swelling's going down?"

"Not a bit," said Bracy, to whom this question was addressed. "There,
we are not going to stay. Make haste, my lad, and get well. I'm glad
you are in such good quarters."

"Thank ye, sir, thank ye. Quarters is all right, sir; but I'd rather be
in the ranks. So would he--wouldn't you, pardner?"

His fellow-sufferer, who looked doubtful at Gedge's free-and-easy way of
talking, glancing the while at the Doctor to see how he would take it,
nodded his head and delivered himself of a grunt, as the little party
filed out of the long, whitewashed, barn-like room.

"A couple of wonderful escapes," said the Doctor, "and quite a treat.
I've had nothing to see to but cases of fever, and lads sick through
eating or drinking what they ought not to. But I dare say I shall be
busy now."

"Thanks, Doctor," said Roberts as they returned to the great court of
the large building. "Glad you've got such good q