Part 11 (2/2)

But you and I can talk about it sometimes, and it will be our little secret.”

”Yes,” said Betty eagerly, ”and as soon as mother is well enough she shall know too. Oh, Mrs. Hamilton, you have made me so very, very happy I don't know what to do.”

There was no more jealousy for Betty that day. She went about with a look of such radiant happiness on her face that, when she came to kiss Jack good-night, his first words were an eager exclamation. ”Oh, Betty, mother's better; I know she is, or you wouldn't look like that!”

The next morning Mrs. Randall really was better, and Dr. Bell came in after his early visit to tell Jack the good news.

”You have been a good, brave little soldier,” he said kindly, ”and in a few more days you will be able to go back to your mother and Betty.”

”Betty has been much braver, though,” said Jack, always eager to sound his sister's praises. ”Mrs. Hamilton says she doesn't know what they would have done without Betty.”

”Yes, indeed, Betty has been a famous little helper. I shall tell your mother she has two little people to be proud of.”

It was still some days, however, before Jack could go home, or before Mrs. Randall was able fully to understand the state of affairs. At first she was too weak to care much about what went on around her. She would lie with half-closed eyes, only smiling faintly when spoken to, and silently accepting all that was done for her without appearing to think very much about it. But as her strength began to return, cares and anxieties returned too, and one morning, when Mrs. Hamilton went up to relieve Miss Clark for an hour, she found the invalid looking so flushed and distressed that she hastened to inquire, as she took the hand Mrs.

Randall held out to her, ”Is anything wrong? Are you not feeling as well this morning?”

”Oh, yes, I am gaining strength every day,” said Mrs. Randall with a sigh, ”but, Mrs. Hamilton, how can I ever repay you for all you have done for us? I have been questioning Betty, and she has told me everything.”

”Now, my dear Mrs. Randall, please don't let us talk about repaying anything,” said Mrs. Hamilton cheerfully. ”You haven't the least idea of the pleasure your dear little boy has given my Winifred, and as for any little things that I may have been able to do, why, they have given me real pleasure too.”

”You are very good, very good indeed,” Mrs. Randall murmured, ”but I can't help worrying a little when I think of all that this illness of mine involves. There are so many expenses to think of; the doctor and the nurse, and other things besides. Miss Clark tells me that it will be several weeks yet before I am able to go back to my work, and it is so near the end of the season.”

”I told Betty to write to your pupils, telling them of your illness,”

said Mrs. Hamilton. ”We found a list of addresses in your desk. Several notes have come for you, but I was afraid you were not strong enough to see them before. Would you like to read some of them now?”

Mrs. Randall said she would, and when she had opened and glanced over the half-dozen notes Mrs. Hamilton brought her, she looked up with tears in her eyes.

”People are very good,” she said a little unsteadily. ”I don't think I ever realized it before, but I have a great deal for which to be thankful.”

”I don't think we ever do realize what true friends.h.i.+p means until trouble comes,” said Mrs. Hamilton gently. ”I know I did not until a great sorrow came to me. I now feel that there is no greater happiness in the world than being able to show my friends how much I care for them.”

The two ladies had a long talk that morning, and grew to know and like each other better than either would have believed possible before. When Mrs. Hamilton had gone back to her own apartment Mrs. Randall called Betty to her side.

”Betty, darling,” she said, and though there were tears in her eyes, there was a more peaceful expression on her face than the little girl had ever seen there before. ”I am afraid I have been a very foolish, selfish mother to you and Jack, but we all make mistakes sometimes, and I am going to try and undo mine as soon as I can. Everybody has been so good it makes me ashamed of my old foolish pride. Mrs. Hamilton has taught me a lesson this morning that I shall never forget. I think she is the best woman I have ever known.”

That same afternoon Jack came home. Dr. Bell carried him upstairs and laid him on the bed beside his mother. How delightful it was to the little cripple to nestle in his mother's arms once more, and to feel her tender kisses on his face. Neither of them said very much; but their happy faces told the story plainly enough, and the doctor's kind eyes glistened as he turned away rather hurriedly to give some direction to Miss Clark. But after the first few rapturous moments, Jack found his tongue and chattered away, telling of all the pleasant times he had had, and the kind friends he had made, while Mrs. Randall listened; and Betty hovered over them both with such a radiant face that her mother asked her smilingly if she had not something delightful to tell as well as Jack. But Betty only blushed a little and shook her head. She had no intention of disclosing her secret just yet.

”Oh, Betty, it is nice to be at home again,” said Jack, stretching himself comfortably on the familiar sofa, when Miss Clark had carried him away to the sitting room, leaving Mrs. Randall to rest for a while.

”I've had a perfectly lovely time, but I do like home.”

”You don't love Winifred better than me, do you?” said Betty, with a little twinge of the old jealousy.

”Why, Betty, how could I possibly do such a thing as that?” Jack's eyes opened wide in astonishment.

”I didn't know,” said Betty, hanging her head. ”I'm awfully glad you don't.”

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