getting
his patients in the ward near, banged the door.

"There, you've done it now, Bracy!" cried the Major, calming down, and
going up to the bedside. "No more of those games, sir, or I shall hit
out too. What's the matter with you? Are you shamming, or are you off
your head?"

"Beg pardon, sir," said Gedge, entering the room; "the Doctor's sent me
to keep watch by Mr Bracy, sir; and he has given me orders that no one
is to be near him till he has decided what is to be done."

"What! Order me to go?" said the Major fiercely. "You go back to
Doctor Morton, and tell him never to dare to send me such a message as
that again."

"Yes, sir," said Gedge, saluting.

"No; stop. This is his own ground," said the Major. "Here, go on with
your duty, my lad, and keep a sharp eye on Mr Bracy. He is... or--er--
not quite so well to-day. You needn't tell the Doctor what I said."

"No, sir; cert'n'y not, sir," replied Gedge, and he held the door open,
standing like a sentry till the Major had passed out, closed it, and I
hen stood looking down at Bracy, who lay gazing at him despairingly for
some moments before raising his hand cautiously and doubtingly towards
his lips.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN.

LOW SPIRITS.

"Drink o' water, sir? Yus, sir--there you are."

Gedge gently raised Bracy's head and, all the time on the watch, hit him
drink with avidity: but lowered his burden quickly the next instant, for
with a sudden jerk the remainder of the water in the brass cup presented
was jerked over his face, and the lotah went flying with a bell-like
ring.

"I was on the lookout for that, sir," said Gedge good-humouredly, "but
you was too quick for me. I say, sir, don't you say you ain't getting
better no more."

"Better, Gedge?" said Bracy pitifully. "I am horribly worse."

"Not you, sir, when you can play games like that."

"Oh, my lad--my lad, I could not help it!" Gedge grinned as he looked
at him, and shook his head.

"You don't believe me," said Bracy sadly. "Well, you see, sir, I can't
very well after that. I couldn't quite take it in when the Doctor told
me what you'd done to him, and how you'd served the Major."

"What did he say?" asked Bracy eagerly.

"Said you'd broke out, sir, and was playing all kinds o' games; and that
you had been cheating him and everybody else."

"Anything else?"

"Yus, sir; that it was a reg'lar case o' malingering, on'y I don't think
he quite meant it. He was cross beca