"Thistledown," he said tenderly, "you have accomplished a blessed work this morning."
"Why," exclaimed Polly, in surprise, "I have n"t done a single thing--only go after David! It"s the Colonel that"s done it all! But is n"t it splendid of him? Are n"t you glad for David?"
"I am glad for them all. It is what I feared never would come to pa.s.s. Colonel Gresham is sure to like David, and it is going to mean everything for the boy."
Chapter XII
The Kidnapping of Polly
"Mamma and I are going to live with Uncle David." So the boy told Polly late that afternoon. "He says he has lost time enough, and now we must come as soon as we can pack up."
"Is n"t that splendid!" beamed Polly, thinking she had never seen David look so happy or so handsome.
"Uncle David is nicer--a great deal nicer--than I dreamed he could be. O Polly, I can"t thank you enough!"
"Thank me?" repeated Polly. "What for?"
"Polly May!" and David gazed at her incredulously. Then he laughed.
"Oh, you little bunch of unselfishness!" he cried. "I believe you have n"t the least idea that Uncle David"s making up with us is all your doing!"
"Why, David Collins, it is n"t! I just told him it would make me happy if he would--that"s all!"
"Just as I said!" he laughed. "O Polly, Polly! Don"t you see-- no, no, I"d rather you would n"t! Don"t try to see!"
"I could n"t!" chuckled Polly. "There is n"t anything to see!"
"All right! It"s grand anyway! Mamma looks so much prettier and younger! Oh, you can"t think how happy--"
The telephone cut off his sentence, and he ran across the office.
He listened a moment; then Polly heard him say, "She is right here. If you"ll wait, please, I"ll ask her."
David turned from the instrument. "It is Mrs. Jocelyn," he explained. "She wants you to come up there to-morrow afternoon, and stay all night and next day. Her cousin"s little girl-- Dorothy Cannon, I think the name is--will be there, and she wants you too."
"Oh, of course I"ll go!" and Polly"s eyes shone: "that is, if Miss Lucy or Dr. Dudley don"t need me for anything, and I don"t suppose they will. Tell her I"ll come, unless they do. Oh, and, David,"--for he had taken up the receiver again,--"ask her what time she wants me, please!"
He gave the message, and then turned back to Polly.
"She says to come as early as you can after dinner. Dear me, it will be awfully lonesome without you!"
"It will, won"t it?" Polly"s face sobered. "But then," she brightened, "you"ll have to be home helping your mother pack up, shan"t you?"
"So I shall," he returned. "And it will be a good time for you to go. Ever hear of this Dorothy before?"
"Oh, yes! Mrs. Jocelyn has told me lots about her. I guess she"s nice. She"s twelve."
"You"ll have a fine time, and I"ll try to be glad you"re going,"
laughed David.
Polly danced off to tell Miss Lucy and Leonora of her invitation, waving a gay good-bye to David from the doorway. She had made several visits of a day to Mrs. Jocelyn, who had left the hospital some weeks before; but she had never remained overnight. And to see the Dorothy Cannon of whom she had heard so many happy things!
She went upstairs on tiptoe of antic.i.p.ation.
Miss Lucy was please, and Leonora tried to be. Polly saw through her forced smiles, however, and proposed all the pleasant make-ups she could think of.
"You can take care of Phebe while I"m gone, and play she"s twin sister to your Juliet" (Leonora had named her doll after its donor), "and you make take the book Burton Leonard sent me. We have n"t read more than half the stories in it yet."
Leonora was beaming her thanks and her delight, when Miss Lucy declared that she should depend on her to help entertain the ward, and that made her look so joyful, Polly knew there would be little lonesomeness for the lame girl.
When Dr. Dudley heard that Polly was going, he promised to carry her in his automobile, for it was a long walk to Mrs. Jocelyn"s home.
"Then I shall have you to myself a little longer than the rest of the," he twinkled.
"Anybody"d think I was n"t ever coming back!" laughed Polly.
"Oh, don"t say so!" shivered Leonora. "Talk about what you"re going to wear!"
"All right!" Polly agreed. "Miss Lucy and I have got it all planned. I shall wear my best white dress, if it is as warm as it is today, and take my white sweater with me, so I"ll have it if it comes off cold. And I"m going to wear my beautiful locket and chain that Mrs. Leonard gave me, and my newest blue hair ribbon, and my best ties, and my best hat."
"Dear me," mused Dr. Dudley gravely, "I did n"t know I should have to sit beside so fine a young lady as that! I wonder if I must put on my dress suit."
Polly giggled, and Leonora squealed, and they were not sobered down when they bade the Doctor good-night.
"Is n"t he nice?" admired the lame girl, as they went slowly upstairs, hand in hand.
"He"s the very nicest man in the whole world!" a.s.serted Polly, and her nodding curls emphasized her praise.
Dressing came directly after dinner, and Polly had the eager a.s.sistance of every girl in the ward that was able to be about on two feet.
Angiola Cuneo fetched the pretty black ties, and Mabel Camp the long stockings. Frederica Schmelzer held the box containing the hair ribbon of delicate blue while Miss Lucy brushed the fluffy curls into smoothness. Stella Pope, greatly puffed up by the importance of her errand, went to Miss Lucy"s own room, and brought back the dainty white frock, all spotless from the laundry. But Leonora"s was the crowning service of all. With trembling fingers she clasped around Polly"s white neck the exquisite little gold chain, with its pendent locket, which had been Mrs. Leonard"s farewell gift when Burton left the hospital.
"There," she whispered delightedly, patting Polly"s shoulder, "you look too sweet for anything!"
Polly dimpled and blushed, but only said:--
"I wish you were going, too!"
"Oh my!" gasped Leonora; "I should n"t know how to act or what to say! I guess I"d rather stay with Miss Lucy."
The nurse, gathering up some of Polly"s tossed-off belongings, smiled comfortably to herself, overhearing Leonora"s words. She rarely had so much as to hint of reproof to Polly for any breach of courtesy; the child seemed instinctively to know what was due to others. She could be trusted anywhere without a fear.
The auto was waiting at the curb, Dr. Dudley and Polly were on their way from office to entrance, when there came a hurried call for the Doctor from one of his patients in a private ward.
"That"s too bad!" he e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed. "I wish she had put off her attack an hour. Now you"ll have to walk--or wait, and it is uncertain how soon I shall be at liberty."