“I should not have thought it, but thirty’s a boy to me, in any case!” retorted Miss Betty, making him laugh. “You are in Mr. Beauleigh’s house⁠—Di’s father, and my brother. And here you will stay until you are quite recovered!”

Jack raised himself on his elbow, grimacing at the pain the movement caused him.

“Egad, madam! have I been here long?” he demanded.

Very firmly was he pushed back on to his pillows.

“Will you be still? A nice thing ’twould be if you were to aggravate that wound of yours! You will have been here a week tomorrow. Bless my heart, what ails the boy?” For Jack’s face took on an expression of incredulous horror.

“A week , madam? Never say so!”