That night, on a low stone horse-block in front of his mother's house
sat Willie Trigger gazing at a lighted window in the second story of the
house opposite, across the drawn shade of which figures passed and
passed again. In that room he knew his hero lay sick. He wondered how
sick; perhaps, he speculated, as sick as he once had been after eating
many green apples. He would watch and wait. Some one surely would come
out of the house before his bedtime. He had followed the hack from the
grounds, had seen the long, slim body carried into the house. No one
paid the least attention to him so he crossed the street and seated
himself on the horse-block. It was not for him to witness the little
drama that was being played behind the window shade....
Before he opened his eyes Bunny heard, like high running surf, a low and
rythmic rumble. It was very soothing.
"What's the matter?" he exclaimed, suddenly, staring at Nibsey Morey who
stood, like a wooden Indian, at the foot of the bed.
Then he felt something very cool against his forehead and closed his
eyes again. It was no matter, he thought.
Nibsey withdrew with a nod.
"He seems to be going to sleep," Wilma said.
He heard the voice and opened his eyes again with a start.
"You here!" he muttered.
And he knew it was she by the touch of her hand upon his cheek.
She told him then what had happened. He smiled feebly, patiently, as
though he realized she was only trying to comfort him.
She slipped down upon her knees beside the bed.
"Don't you understand," she whispered, and her voice sounded far away to
him, "you ran so fast the others were away behind, and you broke the
record, and--oh--oh--Bunny."
She hid her face on the pillow beside his.
Then it all became clear to him, her love, and the depth and meaning of
it. He forgave her for what he was pleased to call, in his mind, the
white lie of her comfort.
"Dearest," he murmured, dreamily, "it's all right; it's all right." He
stroked her hair, feebly. Then, after a moment, he muttered, quite to
himself: "What happened, anyway; why was it they wouldn't let me run?"