Part 27 (1/2)

At other times they gathered upon the veranda or in the parlors and entertained each other with conversation, music, or games of the quiet and innocent kind.

In the meantime many earnest prayers were sent up on behalf of the injured one--the beloved physician--in the closet, in the family wors.h.i.+p, and in the sanctuary when they a.s.sembled there on the Sabbath day; and many a silent pet.i.tion as one and another thought of him on his bed of suffering. They prayed in faith, believing that if it were best in the sight of Him who is all-wise and all-powerful and with whom there is no variableness or shadow of turning, their pet.i.tion would be granted.

And at length so it proved; the fever left him, consciousness and reason were restored, and presently the rejoicing physicians were able to declare the danger past, the recovery certain should nothing occur to cause a relapse.

Then there was great rejoicing among those who were of his kith and kin, and those to whom he was the beloved physician. Then such as were needed at their places of residence presently bade farewell and departed for their homes; Drs. Conly and Herbert Travilla among them, leaving Dr. Harold in sole charge of the invalid.

Those who had come on the _Dolphin_ decided to return on it, though they would linger somewhat longer--no one feeling it a trial to have to delay for days or weeks where they were.

Frank Dinsmore was one of the earliest to leave, and Chester, finding that more Southern climate beneficial to him at that season of the year, was entirely willing to entrust the business of the firm to his brother for a time.

So, relieved of anxiety in regard to d.i.c.k and still numerous enough to make a very pleasant party, the time pa.s.sed swiftly and most agreeably to them--especially to the two affianced pairs and the children; Cousin Ronald and Max now and then entertaining them by the exertion of their ventriloquial powers. The young people from Magnolia Hall were often with them and their presence added zest to the enjoyment of little Elsie and Ned in the fun made by their indulgent ventriloquists. That particular sport was apt to begin unexpectedly to the children, making it a little more difficult to recognize it as the doings of the ventriloquists.

One afternoon, after playing romping games upon the lawn until weary enough to enjoy a quiet rest on the veranda where the older people were, they had hardly seated themselves when they heard a sound of approaching footsteps, then a voice that seemed like that of a little girl, asking, ”Dear little ladies and gentlemen, may I sit here with you for a while? I'm lonesome and would be glad of good company, such as I am sure yours must be.”

Some of the children, hearing the voice but not able to see the speaker, seemed struck dumb with surprise.

It was Violet who answered, ”Oh, yes, little girl. Take this empty chair by me and tell me who you are.”

”Oh, madam, I really can't tell you my name,” answered the voice, now seeming to come from the empty chair by Violet's side. ”It seems an odd thing to happen, but there are folks who do sometimes forget their own name.”

”And that is the case with you now, is it?” laughed Violet. ”Your voice sounds like that of a girl, but I very much doubt if you belong to our s.e.x.”

”Isn't that rather insulting, madam?” asked the voice in an offended tone.

”Oh, I know you're not a girl or a woman either!” cried Ned Raymond gleefully, clapping his hands and laughing with delight. ”You're a man, just pretending to be a little girl.”

”That is insulting, you rude little chap, and I shall just go away,”

returned the voice in indignant tones, followed immediately by the sound of footsteps starting from the chair beside Violet and gradually dying away in the distance.

”Why, she went off in a hurry and I couldn't see her at all!”

exclaimed one of the young visitors; then, as everybody laughed, ”Oh, of course it was Cousin Ronald or Cousin Max!”

”Why, the voice sounded to me like that of a little girl,” said Violet, ”and Cousin Ronald and Max are men.”

”Of course they are, and could not talk in the sweet tones of my little girl,” said a rough masculine voice that seemed to come from the doorway into the hall.

Involuntarily nearly everybody turned to look for the speaker, but he was not to be seen.

”And who are you and your girl?” asked another voice, seeming to speak from the farther end of the veranda.

”People of consequence, whom you should treat with courtesy,” answered the other, who seemed to stand in the doorway.

”As we will if you will come forward and show yourselves,” laughed Lucilla, putting up her hand as she spoke to drive away a bee that seemed to buzz about her ears.

”Never mind, Lu; its sting won't damage you seriously,” said Max, giving her a look of amus.e.m.e.nt.

”Oh, hark! here come the soldiers again!” exclaimed Elsie Embury, as the notes of a bugle, quickly followed by those of the drum and fife, seemed to come from a distant point on the farther side of the bayou.

”Don't be alarmed, miss; American soldiers don't harm ladies,” said the voice from the farther end of the veranda.