He had been
conscious when the Young Doctor said this was so, and he was thinking, as
he lay there watching these two women out of his nearly closed eyes, that
he would like to be back in Ireland at Castlegarry with the girl he had
married and had left without a good-bye near five years gone. If he had
to die he would like to die at home; and that could not be.
Kitty had the courage to turn towards him now. As she caught sight of his
face for the first time--she had so far kept her head turned away--she
became very pale. Then, suddenly, she gathered herself together. Going
over to the bed, she took the limp hand lying on the coverlet.
"Courage, soldier," she said in the colloquialism her father often used,
and she smiled at Crozier a great-hearted, helpful smile.
"You are a brick of bricks, Kitty Tynan," he whispered, and smiled.
"Here comes the Young Doctor," said Mrs. Tynan as the door opened
unceremoniously.
"Well, I have to make an excursion," Crozier said, "and I mayn't come
back. If I don't, au revoir, Kitty."
"You are coming back all right," she answered firmly. "It'll take more
than a horse-thief's bullet to kill you. You've got to come back. You're
as tough as nails. And I'll hold your hand all through it--yes, I will!"
she added to the Young Doctor, who had patted her shoulder and told her
to go to another room.
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