Part 21 (1/2)

”This is better,” Miss Thorley told him with pleasing promptness.

”Mifflin would have reminded her of Jenny Lind. You can take her there some other day.”

”Will you go, too?” eagerly. ”I'll go any day you say.”

But she only smiled over her shoulder as she went up the steps and into the meetinghouse. A quiet peaceful hour followed and when the service was over Mary Rose slipped one hand around Mr. Jerry's fingers and gave the other to Miss Thorley.

”I feel a lot better,” she said. ”I think it was awfully kind of that minister to preach about sparrows. Jenny Lind isn't a sparrow but she's a bird and when the Lord looks after sparrows so carefully I'm sure he'd keep an eye on a canary.”

She was more like her old self as they went on, faster now, because, as Mr. Jerry explained, they had to make up the time they had spent in church and if they didn't reach the hotel at Blue Heron Lake in time for dinner all the chicken b.r.e.a.s.t.s and legs would be eaten and there would be nothing left for them but backbones and necks.

”That's all Gladys ever has,” Mary Rose told him importantly. ”You see they have such a big family that all the other pieces are gone before it is her turn to be helped. She used to love to come to dinner at our house so she could have a wishbone. When her grandmother dies she'll have a leg.”

”My gracious!” murmured Mr. Jerry's Aunt Mary.

”My word!” giggled Miss Thorley.

Fortunately they reached the hotel in time to have their choice of chicken and everyone was glad to see that Mary Rose was hungry and seemed to enjoy her dinner. After dinner they went for a ride on the lake in a launch and then they sat in the shade of a dump of linden trees and watched the bathers.

”Why didn't I tell you to bring your bathing suits?” Mr. Jerry asked suddenly. ”What a dolt I was not to think of it.”

”You're not a dolt!” Mary Rose said indignantly, although she hadn't the faintest idea what a dolt was. ”And I couldn't have brought one for I haven't one. And anyway I wouldn't care to make too merry today.” Her face clouded as she remembered why she did not wish to be too merry.

It was long, long after her bedtime when the car stopped in front of the Was.h.i.+ngton and it was a very sleepy tired little girl who was taken into Uncle Larry's strong arms.

”I've had such a wonderful time,” she murmured, half asleep. ”Uncle Larry, have you found Jenny Lind? We don't have to worry About her any more because I know now the Lord has his eye on her.”

Uncle Larry looked over her head to Mr. Jerry. ”I can't thank you, sir,” he said in a hushed voice, ”but you've been a kind friend to the little girl today.”

”She's such a darling one has to be kind to her.” Miss Thorley answered for Mr. Jerry and blushed when she realized it. ”Don't you bother, Mr. Donovan. I'm like Mary Rose, I know everything will be all right.”

”I hope so, Miss Thorley. Thank you again, sir.” And he went in with Mary Rose asleep in his arms.

”I can't thank you, either.” Miss Thorley held out her hand to Mr.

Jerry after she had said good night to his Aunt Mary. ”I've had a perfect day and it was mighty good of you to plan it for Mary Rose.”

He took her hand in both of his. ”It was mighty good of you to come with Mary Rose and me. And we're going to be friends, now, real friends?” he asked gently.

She caught her breath and looked at him quickly. ”Y-es,” she said slowly. ”Of course, we'll be friends. I--I'm glad you are willing to be friends.”

Mr. Jerry laughed oddly. ”I've learned about the value of that half loaf. Good night.”

CHAPTER XIX

Nothing had been heard of Jenny Lind. Jimmie Bronson had made a surrept.i.tious visit to Mr. Wells' apartment and had escaped only ”by the skin of his teeth,” he a.s.sured Mr. Jerry.

”I didn't get any further than the window before that j.a.p caught me and I didn't see any birdcage. But I shan't give up, Mr. Longworthy. I'll find that canary yet!”

Everybody seemed more anxious now than Mary Rose. She was so confident that the Lord had his eye on the missing Jenny Lind that she almost stopped worrying. Aunt Kate resolutely refused to allow her to go to the Lincoln School in the blue serge suit.