Our Odd-men 



dead, but I remember thinking at the time 

 that the fly probably felt just as I did ; he 

 evidently did not care to fly, or crawl, or 

 walk across the celling upside down after 

 the absurd manner of his kind, just as I 

 did not care if I might never run, or jump, 

 or whistle again ; I only wanted to lie still 

 and never move, or speak, or turn my 

 eyes. 



As I lay thus I heard some one coming 

 upstairs, some one with very heavy boots, 

 who was trying to walk softly in spite of 

 them. The shuffling feet stayed outside 

 my room, their owner gave a very gentle 

 tap, and In answer to my languid "come 

 In " the face of Sprightly appeared round 

 the door. It was wreathed In smiles and 

 kept nodding at me In a way I Imagine 

 calculated to cheer me up and encourage 

 me. 



'' Hullo ! Master Hal," he said, trying 

 to soften his husky voice, just as he had 

 tried to hush his heavy boots. Beg 

 pardon, but I thought as I'd just look in 

 an' see how you was getting on." 



" I am better, thank you," I said, raising 

 my heavy eyes to his. 



'' Aye, but you've had a bad time. Master 

 Hal, a bad time, but you're getting on now, 

 bain't you ? " 



i86 



