"Oh, it's always good," said Dick, grinning up at the nurse. "It's only its name I'm grumbling at."
"Indeed, I'd call it anything you like, so long as you leave me an empty cup," she said with spirit, pulling his hair.
"We'll leave him; he doesn't like an audience," said Mr. Lester, as the second nurse appeared. They strolled out of sight, and then he turned to Fraser suddenly.
"Will you come to our cabin for a little?" he said.
"They tell us you are a specialist in such cases as our boy's," John Lester said. "Will you undertake Dick?"
"I'll examine him, and give you an opinion, if you wish," he said. "I can't say more until we see the result of the examination."
"I'd rather not. The slightest roll, or vibration of the screw might make a difference."
"I'm glad," said Mrs. Lester. "Dick is happy--let him have his time on board in peace."
"Yes, that's so," Fraser agreed. He looked at her eager face pityingly.
"Don't build up false hopes," he said. "These cases are very difficult; there are a hundred reasons why I should not succeed where other men fail. The little girl told me the Perth men had pronounced against your boy's recovery."
"Yes; the one Dick calls 'Legs.' She came to my cabin and dragged me up to see Dick. I don't know how she knew anything about me, but she begged me, on her knees, to take out her spine and use it for Dick."
"Poor little soul!" said John Lester huskily. He put his arm around his wife. She had broken down as, even in those hard days, she had not done before. Over her bent shoulders he looked at the doctor.
"I don't want to build up hopes," he said, "and the Perth men certainly did give us none. But they admitted there was a loophole; that no one understood everything about the spine. They tell us you know more than most men."
"Well, I have studied nothing else for four years," Fraser said. "And fresh discoveries are bound to take place. We cure things now that ten years ago would certainly have been hopeless. But I'm only a learner, as any honest doctor must admit himself. I shall be a learner all my life. It may be--it is possible--that I may find some solution of your son's trouble. I'll do my best. Only don't be too hopeful."
"And still, never give up hope," he said. "More cases are lost through hopelessness than you would dream of. We're only beginning to know the power of thought; but this I can assure you, that if you surround your boy with an atmosphere of hope and courage you go far towards helping him, just as you help to drag him down if your heart is full of despair. He's a boy to fight for, too. Well--I don't even know your name yet--but I'll do my best to help you fight!"
