Part 18 (1/2)
”Not so fast, Blue Robin. No, I did not tell her you would, for I did not know how it would strike you,” rejoined the doctor gravely. ”I only told her what you could do.”
”Oh,” exclaimed his companion; ”well then, please tell her the first time you see her that I shall be delighted to do all I can for her little girl.”
”When I see her-well, I'm going to see her now.” The doctor looked down at Nathalie keenly. ”If you are willing to give this pleasure suppose you begin to-day?”
”To-day-you mean now-this morning?” exclaimed surprised Nathalie.
The doctor nodded gravely.
”Why, well, yes, I suppose I could go this morning.” Nathalie wrinkled her brows; she was wondering about dinner. ”All right,” she said in a moment, ”I'll tell Mother and get my hat!” She started for the door.
”Just wait a moment!” commanded the doctor suddenly, taking Nathalie by the arm and peering down into her face with intent eyes. ”I forgot something, for amusing this little girl means that you will have to promise two things.”
”What are they?” asked the girl curiously.
”The first one is that you will have to promise-as a Girl Pioneer-” the doctor's eyes gleamed again ”not to betray to a living soul that you are telling stories to this child; there is a reason.”
”Oh, that is easy,” nodded Nathalie; ”that is, if you except Mamma, for I always tell everything to her.”
”Well, we'll trust Mrs. Page as to secrecy, and the next thing-this is a big promise, for it will not be so easy to keep-is that when you go to this lady's house you will consent to be blindfolded.” The doctor looked relieved.
”Blindfolded?” repeated puzzled Nathalie. ”Why, do you mean that I will have to have my eyes covered up so I can't see?”
Dr. Morrow nodded, his keen eyes watching the girl's face intently.
There was a pause. ”Am I to go with you?” inquired Nathalie. The doctor's gray head jerked again.
”Why, yes, I'm willing to be blinded-as long as you're with me to lead me about-but what a strange idea!”
”Yes, it is a strange idea, and I tried to reason the lady out of it. I even refused at first-and again yesterday-to ask you to do this ridiculous thing, but after thinking it over I have ventured. You know, there is the little girl to be considered, and you will?”
”Of course I will!” was the quick reply. ”It is a funny thing to do, makes me think of the heroine of some detective tale. Blindfolded! Oh, it will be fun, a real adventure, I do wish I could tell Helen about it, I know she won't tell.”
”No, not yet,” said the doctor, ”just wait and see what happens. I'll predict that after you tell one or two of your exciting tales the blindfold act will be out of it. Now get your hat.”
It was a glorious morning and Nathalie, in a merry chat with the doctor as they glided down one street and up another, forgot to wonder where they were going. But when they suddenly slowed up on a lonely road, the doctor peered cautiously about and then with a flourish drew forth a big black handkerchief, she remembered. She did indeed feel somewhat queer as the doctor laughingly tied the black cap, as he called it, over her eyes, and then, after seeing that it was not pressing too tightly, started his car again.
This time the car went so swiftly that Nathalie caught her breath. O dear, she was beginning to feel nervous. ”It really seems as if you were kidnaping me!” she cried, with an attempt at merriment.
”So I am,” replied the doctor glumly. Evidently this blindfolding business was not to his liking.
As the car came to a standstill the doctor cried, ”Now, Blue Robin, we are about to perform the first act in our little drama, so get up your nerve.”
”I hope you won't let me fall!” exclaimed Nathalie cheerily. ”I don't want to break my nose or anything just yet.”
What a weird feeling it gave her to be led along a stone walk, then up a few steps guided by her companion's strong arm, then evidently into a hall, as Nathalie surmised by the polished floor covered with heavy rugs. After being led stumblingly up the stairway-which she thought would never come to an end-they crept slowly along for some distance; she could not tell whether it was a hall or a room, and felt very trembly as she afterwards told her mother, and she was brought to a sudden halt by hearing, ”Oh, Mamma, here she is!”
The voice did not belong to a small child and Nathalie, surprised, stood still in embarra.s.sed silence wondering what was coming next.
”Oh, Doctor, how kind you are!” cried another voice. ”I had given you up, how obstinate you must think me!” The voice faltered, and then Nathalie felt a soft touch on her arm as it continued, ”Oh, it was very kind of you to consent to come and entertain my daughter, and to be obliged to come this way, too. I feel guilty; I know how unpleasant it must be to have something over your eyes.”
”Well, don't worry over that now,” was the doctor's terse admonition. ”I have complied with your requests-on second thought, and my young girl friend has been most kind in agreeing to your wishes, for the present at least. Later, I hope, you will change your mind about these blinders.”