The idea of sunstroke was so confirmed by the symptoms when he was brought to the hospital that no one thought of anything else." "How soon ?" asked the nurse.
"To-morrow--three o'clock." And the next afternoon, Cardo's head was thoroughly examined, with the result that Dr.Belton soon found at the back of the skull near the top a small but undoubted indentation.
"Of course," he said, "we must have been blind not to guess it before; but we are blind sometimes--very blind and very stupid." Cardo was kept under the influence of a sedative that night, and next day Dr.Belton, with the promptness of action which he now regretted he had not sooner exercised, procured the help of one of the most noted specialists in Sydney, and an operation was successfully performed.
Mr.and Mrs.Wynne's visits of inquiry and sympathy were of almost daily occurrence during the next month, while Cardo in the darkened, quiet room, slowly regained his powers of mind and body.

It was a very slow progress, though it did not seem to be wholly unsatisfactory to Dr.Belton.

That good man, after weeks, nay months, of anxious interest, was, however, at last rewarded by the pleasant spectacle of a young and ardent temperament gradually re-awakening to the joys of life.
The mind which had been darkened for so long could not be expected to regain its elasticity and spring at once, in an hour, or a day.

But it was evident to the doctor that the healing process which had begun would continue, unless retarded by some unforeseen accident.

Gradually the children were admitted into his presence, and while they played with Cardo, Mrs.Belton came and chatted with Sister Vera.
A few days later on Mr.and Mrs.Wynne entered through the verandah with Dr.Belton, and although Cardo looked a little flustered and puzzled, the pleasant smile and warm clasp of the hand with which he greeted them showed there was no great depth of distrust or fear in his mind.