Dr. Dudley a.s.sumed a scowl of disapproval.
The child hesitated. "You know I"d rather go with you," she said sweetly; "but they--"
"I understand all about it, brave little woman," throwing an arm around the slender shoulders, "and I won"t make it any harder for you. Go and tell your story, and let it be a merry one.
Remember, that"s the Doctor"s order! Good-night."
Polly threw him a kiss from the doorway, and then he heard her light footfalls on the stairs.
It was one of his few leisure hours, and he sat for a long time looking out on the quiet street, where his small motor car stood waiting. He had no inclination for a spin to Warringford now; he was thinking too deeply about the little girl who had held so large a share of his big heart since the day when he had first seen her, lying so white and still, with the life all but crushed out of her. It had not seemed possible then that she would ever again dance around like the other children; yet her she was, without even the bit of a limp--and going home to-morrow! Home!
He could imagine the kind of place it was, and he shook his head gravely over the picture. Twice in the first months of Polly"s stay at the hospital her aunt had been to visit her; recently she had not appeared. He recollected her well,--a tall, lean woman, with unshapely garments, and a strident voice.
At eight o"clock Dr. Dudley cranked up his machine, and started away; but he did not go in the direction of Warringford. He turned down one of the narrow streets that led to Aunt Jane"s home.
Meantime, up in the ward, Polly had been following the Doctor"s directions until the children had laughed themselves happy.
"I did n"t let on that I saw you scoot under the bed when the Doctor came," Elsie Meyer whispered to Polly, at the first chance. "Aimee saw you, an" Brida saw you, an" Francesca saw you; but we did n"t say nothin" when Miss Lucy an" the Doctor was wonderin" where you could be. What made you go that way?"
"Come, Polly, say good-night," called the nurse.
And with a soft, "I"ll tell you sometime, Elsie," she obeyed.
The next morning Polly went about the little helpful tasks that she had, one after another, taken upon herself, performing each with even more than her usual care, feeling a strange ache in her heart at the thought of its being the last time.
It was shortly after ten o"clock that Dr. Dudley appeared at the door.
"Polly!" he called.
She ran to him, but her answering smile was pathetic, for her lip quivered, as she said, "I"ll be ready in a minute."
"You are ready now," he returned, and taking her hand in his led her out into the hall.
"I want you for a little while," was all he said, as they went downstairs together.
Poly was a bit surprised when she found that their destination was the great room where the "Board" was in session, but she could not be afraid with Dr. Dudley; so she smiled to all the gentlemen, and answered their questions in her soft, sweet voice, and behaved quite like the little lady that the physician had pictured to them.
Presently Dr. Dudley left her, while he talked in low tones with the white-haired man at the head of the long table. When he came back, he asked:--
"Polly, how should you like to stay here at the hospital all summer, and help Miss Lucy and me to take care of your little friends?"
The light that flashed into Polly"s brown eyes gave them the gleam of a sunny brook. She clasped her small hands ecstatically, crying, "O--o--h! it would be--super-bon-donjical!"
The gentlemen laughed, the tall, white-haired one until his shoulders shook. Then he rapped on the table, and said something about "Miss Polly May," to which the little girl did n"t pay much attention, and there was a big chorus of ayes. After that Polly bade them all good-bye, and went upstairs with Dr. Dudley.
"Children, I have something to tell you," the physician announced.
Everybody was at once alert. A solemn hush fell on the ward.
"What do you think?" he went on;--"Polly May is a full-fledged member of the hospital staff!"
n.o.body spoke. n.o.body even smiled but Miss Lucy. Black eyes and brown eyes, blue eyes and gray eyes stared uncomprehendingly at the Doctor.
"You don"t quite understand that, do you?" he laughed. "Well, it means that Polly is n"t going home to her aunt. Polly is going to stay with you!"
Then what squeals and shouts and shrieks of joy from all over the ward!
Chapter III
Popover
For a week the convalescent ward laughed and sang and almost forgot that it was part of the big House of Suffering. Polly herself beamed on everybody, and all the hospital people seemed to agree that very good fortune had come to her, and to be glad in it.
Then there came a hot day which tried the patience of the small invalids. Polly flitted from cot to cot with her little fluttering fan and her cooling drinks. The afternoon breeze had not yet arrived when Brida MacCarthy begged for a story.
"It will have to be and old one," was the smiling response, for Polly"s supply of cat tales--the kind which the little Irish girl invariably wanted--was limited.
"I don"t care what "t is," whined Brida,--"anything "bout a kitty. Oh, don"t I wisht I had me own darlin" Popover right here in me arms!--Why don"t yer begin?" urged the fretful voice, for Polly sat gazing at the polished floor.
A kindly, fascinating scheme was taking shape in the story-teller"s brain.
"Oh, Brida," she cried, in suppressed eagerness, lowering her voice to a whisper that should not reach Miss Lucy at the other end of the ward, "I"ve thought of the loveliest thing! Your home is n"t very far from here, is it?"
"A good ways--why?" and Brida"s little pale, freckled face showed only mild interest.
"But where do you live--when you"re home?" Polly insisted.
""T 739 Liberty Street is right down by Union! I can find that easy enough! Say, don"t you s"pose your mother "d let me take Popover and bring her up here? You know Miss Lucy wants me to go out to walk every day now."
"Oh, Polly!" the pale face grew pink with joy. "Sure, me mother "d let her come! Oh, Polly, if you would!"
"I will! And I won"t say a word to Miss Lucy about it till Popover is here! It"s her birthday to-day, and it"ll be such a beautiful surprise! I"ve been wishing and wishing we had something to give her."
"Oh, not me darlin" kitty!" returned Brida, in sudden dismay.
"No, no!" laughed Polly rea.s.suringly. "I only meant the surprise. Popover can amuse the whole ward, and won"t Miss Lucy be pleased!"
"It"ll be splendid!" beamed Brida. "How"d yer ever think of it?"
"I don"t know; but I"m glad I did," Polly went on happily. "And perhaps we can keep her a week or so, if we"ll let her have a little of our milk--just you and I. You would n"t mind, would you?"
"Sure, I"ll let her have all she can drink!" declared Brida.
"I guess I"d better go now," said Polly. "What is the number 7----"
"It"s 739 Liberty Street," repeated Brida; "an old brown house next to the corner."
Miss Lucy thought it was rather too warm for a walk, especially as Polly was not very strong yet; but the little girl urged it with such sparkling eyes that she finally let her go, bidding her keep on the shady side of the street and not to stay out too long.