Alpha Book

And so they sat there for a while, Selwyn making what conversation he
could; and at length Gerald turned and dragged himself across the bed,
dropping his head back on the disordered pillows.
"Go on," he said; "I'm listening."
So Selwyn continued his pleasant, inconsequential observations, and
Gerald lay with closed eyes, quite motionless, until, watching him,
Selwyn saw his hand was trembling where it lay clinched beside him. And
presently the boy turned his face to the wall.
Toward midnight Selwyn rose quietly, removed his unlighted pipe from
between his teeth, knocked the ashes from it, and pocketed it. Then he
walked to the bed and seated himself on the edge.
"What's the trouble, old man?" he asked coolly.
There was no answer. He placed his hand over Gerald's; the boy's hand
lay inert, then quivered and closed on Selwyn's convulsively.
"That's right," said the elder man; "that's what I'm here for--to stand
by when you hoist signals. Go on."
The boy shook his head and buried it deeper in the pillow.


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