Crellock started at the words "Bad as you are," but the friendly sound of the "good-night" checked him. "Good-night," he said, hoarsely; and he stood watching the dark figure till it disappeared amongst the trees, and then paced the verandah, and sat and smoked till morning. VOLUME FOUR, CHAPTER ELEVEN. THE DOCTOR GIVES WAY. The doctor was up there soon after sunrise to find Mrs Hallam and Julia by Eaton's couch, they having come down to take Crellock's place shortly after daybreak. "Good-morning. How is he?" said the doctor, quickly. "Mrs Hallam, you look ill yourself." "Nervous excitement. This trouble," said Mrs Hallam, quietly; and she left the room with Julia, after answering a few questions. The doctor examined the injury to the head, which was sufficiently grave, and then proceeded to re-bandage the shoulder that had been dislocated, watching the young man's face, however, the while. He felt the strained sinews, pressed on this bone, then on that, causing intense pain, and making his patient wince again and again; but though the muscles of his face twitched, and his lips involuntarily tightened, he did not even moan till, passing one hand beneath his shoulder, the doctor pressed on the bones again, when, with a sharp cry, Eaton drew in his breath. "Hang it, doctor," he whispered, quickly, "it's like molten lead." "Ah, I thought that would make you speak, Phil. You confounded young humbug! I saw you were shamming." "No, no, doctor, not shamming. My head aches frightfully, and I can't move my arm." "But you could get up and walk down to barracks to breakfast?" "No, indeed I couldn't, doctor." "It's a lie, sir. If the enemy were after you, I'll be bound to say you would get up and run." "By George, I wouldn't!" whispered Eaton. "Well, get up and have a go at them, my boy." "Perhaps I might do that," said the young man, with the blood coming in his white face. "Pretty sort of a soldier, lying here because you've had your shoulder out, and a crack on the head. Why I've seen men behave better after a bullet wound, or a bayonet thrust." "But there is no need for me to behave better, as you call it, and one gets well so much more quickly lying still." "With a couple of women paddling about you, and making you gruel and sop. There, get up, and I'll make you a sling for that arm." "No, no, doctor. Pray, don't." "Get up, sir." "Hush! Don't speak so loudly," whispered Eaton. "Ah-h-h! I see," said the doctor, "that's it, is it? Why how dense I am! Want to stop a few days, and be nursed, eh?" Eaton nodded. "Fair face to sympathise. White hands to feed you with a spoon. Oh, I say, Phil Eaton! No, no! I've got my duty to do, and I'm not going to back up this bit of deceit." "I wouldn't ask you if there was anything to call for me, doctor," pleaded Eaton; "but I am hurt, there's no sham about that." "Well, no; you are hurt, my lad. That's a nasty crack on the head, and your shoulder must be sore."