"I could n"t wait another moment to thank you for reading me that story of the little price. It brought back my own little Lloyd, who was always planting those seeds of love wherever he went. But since he left me I have been like that forgetful queen mother, too wrapped up in myself to think of others. Now I am going to begin to grow those "wonderful white flowers."" Her eyes shone through tears.
Polly did not know what to say; she only looked her sympathy and appreciation.
"Tell me about David," the little lady went on. "Is he well enough to come downstairs?"
"Yes, he"s all ready," was the reply; "but he"s go to wait for somebody to go. Elsie was to leave to-day to to-morrow; but she needs a little more treatment, Dr. Dudley says. So I don"t know when David can come."
"I know!" responded Mrs. Jocelyn confidently. "He is coming down to the convalescent ward--let me see, I think it may be this afternoon, but to-morrow morning sure!"
"Wh-y! how can he?" gasped Polly. "There are three ahead of him, and there are n"t any more beds!"
"There will be before long," chuckled the little lady gaily. "I have been having a bit of a talk with Dr. Dudley, and he tells me that there is plenty of room in your ward for six or more cots-- and Polly May is going to buy them! That is, she can if she chooses."
Polly"s face was one big interrogation point. "Why! I don"t--"
she began, but was interrupted by a kiss right on her lips.
"Oh, you dear, precious little innocent!" cried Mrs. Jocelyn.
"Read that, and see if it will tell you anything!" She took a strip of paper from the table, and put it into Polly"s hand.
Across the top, in large letters, was the name of a back. The rest was partly printed and partly written. Polly read wonderingly:--
Pay to the order of Polly May Three Hundred Dollars.
Juliet P. Jocelyn.
"O-o-h!" and Polly"s face was beautiful in its joy; "does this mean that you"re going to give me three hundred dollars to buy some new cots with?"
"It means that the money is your own to use exactly as you please." The little lady was scarcely less excited than the child. Giving was to her almost an untried pleasure.
"Oh, I can"t, I can"t, I can"t thank you enough! It is so lovelicious!" Then Polly threw her arms around the happy donor in a way that would have made her cry out with actual pain if she had not been too delighted to realize it.
"I think that will cover the cost of six or seven cots, equipped for use," said Mrs. Jocelyn,--"that is, if you wish to spend the money for them." The gray eyes actually twinkled.
"Why, of course I do!" cried Polly. "What else could I do with it?"
"_You_ could n"t, you blessed child! So we"ll have David downstairs just as soon as his bed is ready, won"t we?"
"Yes, and how glad he"ll be! Oh, how glad he"ll be! And Brida and Elsie--they"ve been dreadfully afraid they"d have to go home before he came down; they want to see him so! Won"t they be pleased!"
"I want to see David, too," declared the little lady, "and he must come down with you as soon as his is strong enough--unless I get well first," she laughed. "I feel almost well now."
Polly beamed her delight, and presently was racing upstairs to tell her good news to everybody.
Dr. Dudley managed to get away before noon for the pleasant errand of purchasing the beds, and Polly was overflowing with bliss. She had her choice in everything, with the Doctor and the merchant as advisers; and although the bill footed up to a little more than the check, the difference was struck off, and the cots and bedding promised to be at the hospital by two o"clock that afternoon.
The convalescent ward was in such an ecstasy of excitement that dinner went poorly; but finally it was cleared away, and the cots moved to make room for those were coming. Everybody helped that could walk--even those that had to hobble on crutches, for there were many little things to do, and only a short time to do them in. Polly was Miss Lucy"s ready right hand, with always a flock of eager a.s.sistants. When the beds were actually in place and the men had gone away, came the delightful task of spreading on the sheets and blankets and pretty coverlets. All was in readiness before the hour specified, and then there was nothing to do but wait for the coming of the new patients.
At last there were footsteps on the stairs, uneven footsteps, as of one bearing a burden--the children had started! David was the last, and Polly had begun to be troubled, lest, after all, something might have delayed him until another day. But there he was, smiling to her, and waving a thin little hand in greeting.
Polly wished that Mrs. Jocelyn could be there to see it all. When David was finally in bed, with Polly by his side, he said:--
"Now, tell me all about it, please! It was such a splendid surprise!"
So Polly told just how it had happened, and talked and kept on talking, until she suddenly discovered that David was looking a little weary--though he insisted that he was not tired. But in her motherly way, that was the delight of the ward, she bade him shut his eyes and "go right to sleep," giving his hand a final caressing pat, and then running away to let him have a chance to follow her injunction.
Chapter IX
A Night of Song
David had been nearly three whole days in the convalescent ward, taking big leaps on the road to health, when Polly was summoned to Dr. Dudley"s office. Since her meeting with Aunt Jane, the sharp-voiced woman was ever close at hand, ready instantly to appear in the little girl"s thought and fill her with sickening fear. Now Polly"s feet lagged as she went downstairs; she dreaded to look into the office. But Dr. Dudley was there quite alone, smiling a blithe good-morning.
"Miss Price wishes you a.s.sistance in the care of a patient," he began.
"Wh-y!" breathed Polly, "How funny--for her to want me!"
"She is nursing Burton Leonard," the physician explained, "a little six-year-old boy who was operated upon yesterday for appendicitis. His life depends on his being quiet, but he will not keep still. Miss Price thinks you can help out by telling him a story or two, something that will make him forget, if possible, how terribly thirsty he is."
"Can"t he have anything to drink?" questioned Polly, with a sympathetic little frown.
"Only an occasional sip of warm water--nothing cold."
"I"ll do my best," she promised. "I shall love to help, if I can."
Dr. Dudley took her hand, and down the corridor they went, the one with long strides, the other on dancing feet.
Master Burton stared at his visitor, his big black eyes looking bigger in a contrast with the white, drawn little face.
"What you come for?" he asked fretfully.
"To see you," smiled Polly.
"I do" want to be seen," was the unexpected reply, and he pulled the sheet over his head.
Polly laughed, and waited.
Presently the black eyes again appeared.
"Why don"t you lie abed?" he whined.
"I did till I got well."
"Did they make you lie still?" he questioned.
"Yes, I had to keep very still indeed."
"I don"t," he whispered, glancing towards the Doctor, who was just pa.s.sing out. "When they ain"t lookin" I wriggle round!"
"You"d get well quicker if you"d do just as Miss Price and Dr.