“David has suddenly asked if you were here, Frank,” he said. “He wants to see you, and the doctor thinks you had better go to him. He is getting very restless, and perhaps you may be able to quiet him. That’s what they want you to do. You can trust yourself?” Frank got up. “Yes, sir; I know I can,” he said. The room where he lay was lit by a lamp that was shaded from the bed, and near the head of it was standing the doctor, who nodded to Frank as he came in, and beckoned him to the bed, putting a chair for him by the side of it. “David, old chap, here I am,” he said. David turned his tired eyes to him. “Oh, I say, that’s ripping,” he said faintly. “But I can’t see you very well. Mayn’t there be a bit more light?” The doctor quietly tilted the shade round the lamp, so that the light fell on Frank’s face. “Will that do?” said Frank. “Yes, rather. I wanted to see you awfully. I wondered if you would come. I thought perhaps you would when you knew. Frank, am I going to die?” Frank pulled the chair a little closer, and bent over him. “No,” he said. “You’re going to do nothing of the sort. We can’t get on without you possibly, so you’ve got to get well. See?” The doctor came close to Frank and whispered to him. “Tell him he must go to sleep,” he said, and stepped back again out of sight. “And to get well,” continued Frank, “you’ve got to go to sleep and bring your strength back. David, don’t you remember our two beds at the end of dormitory? Well, think yourself back in yours with me in the one next you, and imagine it’s time to go to sleep. It’s quite easy you know. Imagine it’s that jolly evening after our house-match last year, when you were so tired you fell asleep without undressing.” “Yes, I remember,” said David. He was silent a little, but his eyes were still wide. “I say, would it bore you awfully to hold my hand,” he said. “You’re so strong and fit and quiet. I might get some. I don’t know. Am I talking rot?” “No, not a bit. There!” Frank fitted his hand into David’s, which lay like a sick child within it. “Yes, ripping,” said he, a little drowsily. “Sure it’s not an awful bore?” “It’s a frightful bore,” said Frank. David smiled. “You didn’t get a rise out of me,” he said. “Shall have another try before long,” said Frank. “Comfortable?” “Rather.” David lay for some ten minutes still wide-eyed, but quiet. Then his eyelids fluttered, closed and opened again. “Awfully comfortable,” he said. “I wanted just you to tell me what to do. I did so want you to come.” David’s eyelids dropped again, and the doctor came round to Maddox’s side. “Sit quite still,” he whispered, “and don’t speak to him again.” “Sure it doesn’t bore you?” asked David once more.