"Why do you say that?"
"Because _I_ wouldn"t pray to anybody that I believed kept me afflicted."
Miss Fletcher started back. "Why, child!" she exclaimed, "I should think you"d expect a thunderbolt. Where do your folks go to church, for pity"s sake?"
"To the Christian Science church."
"Oh--h, that"s what"s the matter with you! Some of Flossie"s relatives have heard about that, and they"ve been teasing her mother to try it. I"m sure I"d try anything that wasn"t blasphemous."
"What is blasphemous?"
"Why--why--anything that isn"t respectful to G.o.d is blasphemous."
"Oh!" returned Hazel. Then she added softly, "I should think you were that, now."
"What!" and Miss Fletcher seemed to tower above her visitor in her amazement.
"Oh--please excuse me. I didn"t mean to be impolite; but if you"ll just _try_, you"ll find out what a mistake you and Flossie have been making, and that G.o.d _wants_ to heal her."
The two looked at one another for a silent half-minute, the little girl"s heart beating faster under the grim gaze.
"You might come and see her some day," suggested Miss Fletcher, at last.
"She has a dull time of it, poor child. I"ve asked the children to come in, and they"ve all been very kind, but it"s vacation, and a good many that I know have gone away."
"I will," replied Hazel. "Doesn"t she like to come out here where the flowers are?"
"Yes; it"s been a little too cloudy and threatening to-day, but if it"s clear to-morrow I"ll wheel her out under the elm-tree, and she"d like a visit from you. Are you staying far from here?"
"No, uncle d.i.c.k"s is right on this street."
"What"s his last name?"
"Mr. Badger," replied Hazel, and she didn"t notice the sudden stiffening that went through Miss Fletcher.
"What is your last name?" asked the lady, in a changed voice.
"Wright."
This time any one who had eyes for something beside the flowers might have seen Miss Fletcher start. Color flew into her thin cheeks, and the eyes that stared at Hazel"s straw tam-o"-shanter grew dim. This was dear Mabel Badger"s child; her little namesake, her own flesh and blood.
Her jaw felt rigid as she asked the next question. "Have you ever spoken to your uncle d.i.c.k about my garden?"
"Yes, indeed. That"s why he let me make one; and every night he asks, "Well, how"s Miss Fletcher"s garden to-day," and I tell him all about it"
"And didn"t he ever say anything to you about me?"
"Why, no;" the child looked up wonderingly. "He doesn"t know you, does he?"
"We used to know one another," returned Miss Fletcher stiffly.
Richard had certainly behaved very decently in this particular instance. At least he had told no lies.
"Hazel is such an unusual name," she went on, after a minute. "Who were you named for?"
"My mother"s favorite aunt," returned the child.
"Where does she live?"
"I don"t know," replied Hazel vaguely. "My mother was talking to me about her the evening before uncle d.i.c.k and I left Boston. She told me how much she loved aunt Hazel; but that error had crept in, and they couldn"t see each other just now, but that G.o.d would bring it all right some day. I have a lovely silver spoon she gave me when I was a baby."
Miss Fletcher stooped to her border and cut a bunch of mignonette with the scissors that hung from her belt. "Here"s something for you to smell of as you walk home," she said, and Hazel saw her new friend"s hand tremble as she held out the flowers. "Do you ever kiss strangers?" added the hostess as she rose to her feet.
Hazel held up her face and took hold of Miss Fletcher"s arm as she kissed her. "I think you"ve been so kind to me," she said warmly. "I"ve had the best time!"
"Well, pick the climbing rose as you pa.s.s," returned Miss Fletcher. "It seems to want to see the world. Let it go along with you; and don"t forget to come to-morrow. I hope it will be pleasant."
She stood still, the warm breeze ruffling the thin locks about her forehead, and watched the little girl trip along the walk. The child looked back and smiled as she stopped to pick the pink rose, and when she threw a kiss to Miss Fletcher, that lady found herself responding.
She went into the house with a flush remaining in her cheeks.
"How long you stayed, aunt Hazel," said the little invalid fretfully as she entered.
"I expect I did," returned Miss Fletcher, and there was a new life in her tone that Flossie noticed.
"Who is that girl?"
"Her name is Hazel Wright, and she is living at the Badgers". She"s as crazy about flowers as I am, so we had a lot to say. She gave me a lecture on religion, too;" an excited little laugh escaped between the speaker"s lips. "She"s a very unusual child; and she certainly has a look of the Fletchers."
"What? I thought you said her name was Wright."
"It is! My tongue slipped. She"s coming to see you to-morrow, Flossie. We must fix up your doll. I"ll wash and iron her pink dress this very afternoon; for Hazel has a beauty doll, herself. I think you"ll like that little girl."
That evening when uncle d.i.c.k and Hazel were at their supper, Mr. Badger questioned her as usual about her day.
"I"ve had the most _fun_," she replied. "I"ve been to see Miss Fletcher, and she took me into her garden, and we smelled of all the flowers, and had the loveliest time!"
Hannah was standing behind the little girl"s chair, and her eyes spoke volumes as she nodded significantly at her employer.
"Yes, sir, she told Miss Fletcher where she was visiting, and she gave her a bunch of mignonette and a rose to bring home."
"Yes," agreed Hazel, "they"re in a vase in the parlor now, and she asked me to come to-morrow to see an afflicted girl that"s living with her. You know, uncle d.i.c.k," Hazel lifted her eyes to him earnestly, "you know how it says everywhere in the Bible that anybody that"s afflicted goes to G.o.d and He heals them; and what do you think! Miss Fletcher and that little Flossie girl both believe G.o.d afflicted her and fixed her back so she can"t walk!"
Mr. Badger smiled as he met the wondering eyes. "That isn"t Christian Science, is it?" he returned.
"I"d rather never have a garden even like Miss Fletcher"s than to think that," declared Hazel, as she went on with her supper. "I feel so sorry for them!"
"So you"re going over to-morrow," said Mr. Badger. "What are you going to do; treat the little invalid?"