that
there's no need for me to feel anxious about your hurt."

"Not a bit, Solomon," he cried merrily. "There you go again, trying to
make puns--solemn un--eh? I say, though, you do look solemn this
morning, Val. I know: want your breakfast--eh!"

"Had it," I said, smiling now.

"I do, my young recruit. I'm longing for a cup of hot coffee or tea.
But I say, Val, my lad," he continued, seriously now, "I haven't felt in
a very laughing humour while I lay awake part of the night."

"I suppose not," I said earnestly. "It must have been very terrible to
lie here listening to the fighting--wounded, too--and not able to join
in."

"Well, yes, that was pretty bail; but I didn't worry about that. I knew
the Colonel would manage all right. I was worried."

"What worried you?" I said--"the pain?"

"Oh no; I grinned and bore that. Here, come closer; I don't want that
chap to hear."

"What is it?" I said, closing up.

"It was that business yesterday, when I was hit."

"Oh, I wouldn't think about it," I said.

"Can't help it. I did try precious hard to carry it off before I quite
broke down."

"You bore it all like a hero," I said.

"No, I didn't, lad. I bore it like a big boarding-school girl. Oh! it
was pitiful. Fainted dead away."

"No wonder," I replied, smiling. "You're not made of cast-iron."

"Here, I say, you fellow," he cried; "just you keep your position. None
of your insolence, please. Recollect that you're only a raw recruit,
and I'm your officer."

"Certainly," I said, smiling. "I thought we were both volunteers."

"So we are, old fellow, off duty; but it must be officer and private on
duty. I say, tell me, though, about the boys and the Sergeant. Did
they sneer?"

"Sneer?" I cried indignantly. "You're insulting the brave fellows.
They carried you down splendidly, and I believe there wasn't a man here
who wouldn't have died for you."

"But--but," he said huskily, "they must have thought me very weak and
girlish."

"I must have thought so too--eh?"

"Of course," he said, in a peculiar way.

"Then, of course, I didn't," I cried warmly; "I thought you the bravest,
pluckiest fellow I had ever seen."

"Lay it on thick, old fellow," he said huskily; "butter away. Can't you
think of something a little stronger than plucky and brave--and--don't
take any notice of me, Val, old lad. I'm a bit weak this morning."

"Of course you are," I said sharply, and dashed off at once int