Part 14 (1/2)

”Oh, but he won't be, not really. Lulu has been to that hospital to see the children and take them things, and she says the nurses are very kind. One of them took care of Lulu's aunt when she broke her knee last year, and they all liked her very much. And then, you know, Dr. Bell goes there every day, and we shall go too, just as soon as Jack is well enough to see us. Oh, Betty, dear, I'm sure G.o.d is going to let Jack get well and be just like other people. I've been saying little prayers to Him all day about it.”

”So have I,” said Betty, who was beginning to find Winifred's society very cheering. ”He'll be so happy if he can walk, and mother says Dr.

Bell wants us all to go to the country as soon as Jack is strong enough.”

Winifred heaved a little sigh.

”I think almost every one is going to the country pretty soon,” she said. ”School closes the end of next week, and all the girls are going away the first part of June. I shall miss them all, especially Lulu.”

”Dr. Bell said they were going to the seash.o.r.e the first of June.”

”Yes, they're going to Navesink; Lulu says it's a lovely place. There's the ocean, you know, and a river, where they can fish and catch crabs.

I've never seen the ocean; Aunt Estelle doesn't like sea air, so we always went to the mountains.”

”Wouldn't you like to go to Navesink too?” Betty asked.

”I should just love it. Lulu wants me to come and visit her, but of course I can't leave mother.”

”New York isn't so bad in summer,” said Betty cheerfully. ”We were here last year. It's nice in the park and on the Riverside, but of course the real country must be much nicer.”

”I think any place is nice where mother is,” said Winifred, with simple conviction. ”Oh, Betty, there's the door bell, and it's mother's ring.”

Betty sprang to her feet, and darted out into the hall. Mrs. Randall took a few quick steps towards the door, but then her strength failed her, and, with a low cry, she sank on her knees on the floor beside Jack's sofa, trembling from head to foot, and covering her face with her hands.

Mrs. Hamilton came straight into the room. She pa.s.sed the two little girls without a word, but there was a look on her sweet face that somehow kept them both silent, eager as they were for news. For one second she paused beside the sofa, and then dropping on her own knees, took the trembling, swaying figure right into her kind arms.

”Oh, my dear, my dear,” she sobbed, the happy tears streaming down her cheeks, ”I don't know how to tell you, but it is all as we wished. The operation is over; it was a great success, the doctors say, and--and--don't tremble so, dear--there is nothing to grieve over, but, oh, so much to make you glad. I have just come from the hospital, and Dr. Bell has sent you this message. 'Tell Mrs. Randall,' he said, and there were tears in his eyes, 'tell Mrs. Randall that everything is going on splendidly,' and--and--oh, think of it, my dear,--'that her little boy will walk.'”

CHAPTER X

A LETTER AND A SURPRISE

”Here's a letter for you, Winnie,” said Mr. Hamilton, coming into the dining room, just as his wife and little daughter were sitting down to breakfast one warm morning in the beginning of July.

”It's from Lulu,” exclaimed Winifred joyfully, glancing at the handwriting. ”Oh, I'm so glad! I haven't had a letter from her since she went away.”

”This is a good fat one, at any rate,” said Mr. Hamilton, smiling, and Mrs. Hamilton added:

”Read it to us, dear.”

So Winifred opened her letter and began:

”Navesink, N.J., July 6th.

”Dearest Winifred:

”I meant to write to you ever so long ago, but I have been so busy that I couldn't find the time. This is a lovely place, and we all like it very much. The ocean is right in front of the house, and in the big storm last week the waves came up all over the lawn. We go in bathing every day that the ocean is smooth enough, all but Aunt Daisy. She is afraid of the big waves, but papa says she wouldn't be if she would only make up her mind to go in once. On the other side of the house is the Shrewsbury River, and that is very nice too. All the Rossiters came up to spend the day last Sat.u.r.day, and papa took us crabbing. I caught three, and we had them for luncheon. There is an old boat fastened to our dock. It hasn't any oars, or rudder, or anything, but it's splendid to play s.h.i.+pwreck in.