Page:Magdalen by J S Machar.pdf/136

 “Ha, ha,” he hissed as he laughed, “a good guess! So there is some one who has a better opinion of me! Well, thanks! I, who am declared a fool by my own community, am taken to be at a picnic of the best society! No, I am here my own picnicker!” and he fell to coughing. “My good old mother thinks that these trees will restore my affected lung!” He cleared his throat, and stretched himself as though fatigued by that speech. “I am just doing so to please her ” and he coughed again.

“Take care of yourself, and do not talk,” Lucy said, imploringly, clenching her hands.

He laughed aloud: “Ah, a human being that has sympathy for me!”

“Do you not believe it?”

“Yes, I do. You pity me, but in your heart you whisper to yourself: Lord; I will give thanks to you to-day that I am not in the same fix as that fellow.”

“Do not believe that!” Lucy exclaimed,