Part 22 (2/2)

”Yes,” answered Cherry, who was standing on the other side of the bed, ”only I didn't know as the Lord Jesus would send anything so very nice as this.”

d.i.c.kie a.s.sented, adding with a little sigh of satisfaction, ”I never want to get up no more.”

”You shall lie here as long as you like,” said Meg a.s.suringly. ”Now, d.i.c.kie, open your eyes and look at Jem.”

”I can't open my eyes,” answered d.i.c.kie, ”'cause they hurt so; but I'm glad fa'ver-Jem has come back.”

”Am I to be 'father-Jem'?” asked the man, bending down to look closer into the little face.

”Yes,” said d.i.c.kie; ”if it's 'mo'ver-Meg,' it must be 'fa'ver-Jem.'”

Jem smiled and then sighed. He had hoped for something different from this; but what if His Father's will had arranged it so?

”You do not mind, Jem?” came in Meg's soft voice. ”His feeling so has made me very happy.”

”So it shall me, sweetheart,” he answered, taking the child henceforward right into his big heart.

Then he turned to Cherry.

”Make haste and put on your hat, Cherry,” he said to her; ”for I want to get your poor father to give you to us to take care of. D'ye think he will?”

Cherry looked doubtful. It was on her lips to say, ”Father would do anything for drink,” but she felt it would be cruel to even think such a thing now, and she hastily dismissed the thought. And as it went another came--”I'll ask Jesus to help.” So when she put on her shabby little hat, and turned down-stairs with Jem, the uppermost thought in her heart came to be, ”Oh, if only poor father could love Jesus; I shouldn't mind about being happy myself.”

Perhaps Jem's mind was running on the same subject, for he walked along very silently by her side. Once he turned to her to take her little thin hand, and to ask her if he were walking too fast, but after that he scarcely spoke till they stood inside the hospital.

He felt Cherry's hand trembling so much then, that he stooped to her, and spoke in a whisper.

”There's naught to be afraid of, dear,” he said; ”and if you're thinkin'

of your poor father, the best plan as I know on is to tell G.o.d about that.”

Cherry looked up. Did he guess from her eyes that she had already done so?

They soon found themselves in the accident ward, and in a moment were standing by a bed in which Cherry could recognize her father's form.

”I don't suppose it'ull be much use,” said the nurse in a low tone; ”he hasn't taken a bit of notice since he was brought in; the only word he says is 'd.i.c.kie,' and you don't either of you seem to be him.”

Jem shook his head.

”May I speak to him?”

”Oh, yes; but you mustn't be disappointed if he don't notice.”

She made a gesture which implied that he had not long to live, and then stood off at a little distance; while Cherry, at a sign from Jem, bent towards the bed and whispered, ”Father!”

[Ill.u.s.tration: Jem took the child out of the chair and wrapped his arms round him pacing up and down the room with him on his breast.--p. 176.]

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