Part 27 (1/2)
”I'm afraid--” said the doctor, glancing up at her and stopping short.
Meg looked yearningly into the little face.
”I think I was told he is not your own child?”
”No,” answered Meg; ”they are our adopted children.”
”What puzzled me was that his sister said his name was d.i.c.kie Seymour.”
”So it is,” said Meg, as if this were a new thought to her. ”How strange I did not think of that; but he is no relation.”
”The best thing for him would be to go into the country,” said the doctor, considering; ”but I suppose that is out of the question. Even then I doubt if he will ever--”
Meg looked at him startled.
”Do you mean that I am going to lose him?” she asked, not knowing how to put it so that d.i.c.kie should not understand and be troubled.
”No, no,” said the doctor quickly, putting his hand in explanation to his own eyes. ”But it would be a great thing to improve his health.”
”I will think it over,” said Meg, her thoughts instantly flying to her own dear mother and the little rose-covered cottage at home.
”Now, my little man, let me have a look into your eyes. Don't be afraid; I'm not going to hurt you much.”
He proceeded to open the lids, in spite of d.i.c.kie's wail of pain; while Cherry stood by trembling, having well understood the tenor of the foregoing conversation.
”It _does_ hurt me,” said d.i.c.kie, trying to draw away.
”Ah, well,” said the doctor, letting him go; ”time will show. Can you see me now, or your sister?”
But d.i.c.kie only buried his head in Meg's bosom, and would not be persuaded to try.
Just as the doctor was going out at the door he turned back and addressed Cherry.
”My little girl, are you old enough to have left school?”
”Yes, sir; I pa.s.sed all the Standards just before mother died.”
”Indeed?--and what are you thinking of turning your hand to?”
”Anything I can get,” answered Cherry, blus.h.i.+ng.
”Because the girl who used to clean my steps every morning has gone to a regular place, and I want some one else. Would you like to do it?”
[Ill.u.s.tration: Cherry went up-stairs to see if Mrs. Seymour should want her to do anything before she went to bed.--p. 195.]
”Very much, sir,” she answered, smiling.
”My servants are busy just then, and I do not like my steps to be cleaned after eight o'clock. You see, my house being a doctor's, people begin to come early.”
”I could be there as early as you like, sir,” said Cherry, looking towards Meg for confirmation.