human
Still here, Van?
gpt
What's happened to you that you look like that?
human
Like what?
gpt
Why, as if somebody had sent you a Christmas-tree or made you president of a railroad?
human
I've been to see the Head,
gpt
Humph! I never knew of his causing any one such overwhelming delight,
human
Hush up, old man; don't run down the Doctor, Bob said.
gpt
You may have more cause to be grateful to him than you know.
human
You don't mean-- Van's voice trembled.
gpt
Did you go to see him about me?
human
Bob! How did you dare?
gpt
I dare do anything that becomes a man; who dares do more is none, quoted Bob merrily.
human
I don't believe, though, I'd have dared go for myself, he answered.
gpt
It is different when you are doing it for some one else. Now sit up and listen and I'll tell you all about it. The Doctor was mighty white about you; but in spite of all he stuck to the fact that you'd disobeyed the rules; he kept going back to that every time I tried to switch him off. We squabbled over you a solid hour, and the upshot of it was this: you are to stay at Colversham--
human
Hurrah!
gpt
Shut up and hear the rest of it. You are to stay here because I promised upon my word of honor that you would keep straight and study.
human
I'll do it.
gpt
That isn't all.
human
Yes, you are to stay, he repeated as if to gain time.
gpt
But of course you can't expect to slip through with no punishment at all.
human
No, indeed!
gpt
The Doctor thinks it is only fair that you should be pretty severely reminded of what you've done.
human
That's all right. I'm not afraid. Fire ahead! What's he going to do with me?
gpt
He thinks--he says--he feels it is best--
human
Oh, come on, come on--out with it!
gpt
He has forbidden you to take any part in the school athletics this spring,
human
I'm mighty sorry, old fellow, declared Bob,
gpt
I'd far rather Maitland had knocked me out,
human
It's all right, Bob, he said.
gpt
Don't you fuss about me any more. You were a trump to get me off as well as you did. I'll take my medicine without whimpering. I ought to bless my stars that my banishment from athletics is only temporary. Suppose I had been smashed up so I could never play another game like that little kid, Tim McGrew, he shuddered.
human
It was just sheer luck that saved me. Why, do you suppose, he should have been the one to be crippled and I go scot free?
gpt
I don't know. Maybe because there is something in the world that only you can do. My father believes that.
human
Do you?
gpt
I don't know.
human
It would be strange, wouldn't it, to feel you were let off just to do something? mused Van.
gpt
You'd be wondering all the time what it was. Of course it would be something big.
human
You could never tell what it was, Bob replied, falling in with his friend's mood.
gpt
I suppose the only way to make sure would be to do whatever came to you the best way you could do it. You never could be sure that what you were doing was not the great thing.
human
Not studying and stuff like that.
gpt
It might be; or at least studying might lead to it.
human
I don't believe it.
gpt
It wouldn't hurt you to try it.
human
No, I suppose not. Then with characteristic caprice Van shifted the subject.
gpt
But seriously, Bobbie, there is something I am going to do. You'll howl, I guess, and maybe you'll be disappointed, too. It's about that sick kid, Tim McGrew. The surgeon says the little beggar will never walk again. I feel pretty sore about it; I suppose because I was there, explained Van uneasily.
human
I've about decided to chip in the money Father was going to send me for a canoe and get a wheel chair for him. His folks are poor, and can't get one, and the doctor says--
gpt
You're a--
human
Oh, shut up, can't you, Bobbie? It's only because I'm so cut up about the accident. Remember, it might have been me instead of him. You won't mind much if we don't have the canoe, will you?
gpt
No,
human
Have you thought, Van, that maybe the thing you are to do is something for that little lame boy, Tim McGrew?