"You were warned not to try to walk much for a week or two." "Pshaw!" said Alton with sudden fierceness.

"There's more than that." Seaforth laid his hand compassionately upon his comrade's shoulder.
"It had to come sooner or later--and I was afraid to tell you before.
You will never walk quite as well as you used to, Harry." Alton clutched the balustrade, and a greyness crept into his face.
"I," he said very slowly, "a cripple--all my life!" Seaforth said nothing, and there was a silence for almost a minute until Alton slowly straightened himself.

"Well," he said quietly, "there is no use kicking--but this was to have been the best day of my life." Seaforth understood him and saw his opportunity.

"I don't think that will make any difference, Harry." Alton seemed to choke down a groan.

"I had so little before," he said.
Again Seaforth laid his hand upon his shoulder, "Shake yourself together, Harry.