Part 2 (1/2)
”Th' deed is did!” said Uncle Robert, and as soon as he could break into the conversation, he said: ”Rick, Rosanna and I want to consult you.”
Rosanna squeezed his hand for that; it was so much nicer than to put it all off on her.
Doctor MacLaren laughed his nice, friendly laugh. ”Well, if you are both in some scheme, I should say it was time for honest fellows like me to be careful. Let's hear what it is.”
”You tell, Rosanna,” said Uncle Robert. ”I can't talk and smoke all at the same time.”
So Rosanna, very brave because of Uncle Robert's strong arm around her, commenced at the beginning and told all about Gwenny and her family, and her bravery in bearing the burden of her lameness and ill health. And she went on to tell him about the Girl Scouts and all the good they do, and that she was sure that they would help, but they (she and Helen) hated to put it before the meeting unless they had some idea of the amount of money it would be necessary for them to earn. And another thing; what if they should start to get the money, and couldn't? What a _dreadful_ disappointment it would be for Gwenny and indeed all the family down to Baby Christopher!
The two young men heard her out. Then Uncle Robert said:
”I don't know the exact reason, but it seems that you cannot work with these Girl Scouts if you are a parent. Are you a parent, Rick?”
”Please don't tease, Uncle Bobby,” said Rosanna pleadingly. ”It is only that we Scout girls are supposed to try to do things ourselves without expecting all sorts of help from our mothers and fathers--and grandmothers and uncles,” she added rather pitifully.
Robert patted her hand. Rosanna was an orphan.
”I see now how it is,” he said. ”Tell us, Rick, what you think about this.”
”I think that Sat.u.r.day morning, when there is no school, Rosanna might take me to call on Miss Gwenny and we will see about what the trouble is. And I think as she does, that it would be very wise to say nothing at all about this plan until we know something about the case. It would be cruel to get the child's hopes up for nothing. If there is anything that I dare do, I will promise you now that I will gladly do it, but I cannot tell until I see her.”
”Thank you ever and ever so much!” said Rosanna. ”We won't tell anyone a thing about it!”
”Can you drive over to Gwenny's tomorrow and tell her mother that a doctor friend of mine is coming to see her?” asked Uncle Robert.
”Indeed I can if grandmother is willing!” said Rosanna. ”Oh, I _do_ feel as though we will think up some way of earning the money!”
Rosanna was so happy that she overslept next morning and was nearly late getting to school, so she did not see Helen until they were dismissed.
They walked slowly home and sat down on their favorite place on the top step. They had been sitting quietly, watching a group of children playing in the leaves, when Rosanna jumped to her feet and commenced to dance up and down.
”Oh, Helen, Helen,” she cried. ”I believe I have it! I believe I have it! Oh, I am _so_ excited!”
”Well, do tell me!” exclaimed Helen.
”That is just what I am going to do,” said Rosanna, still dancing.
”Let's go around in the garden and sit in the rose arbor where no one will disturb us.”
”That is the thing to do,” agreed Helen, and together they went skipping through the iron gateway that led into the lovely old garden. Once upon a time that gate had been kept locked and little Rosanna had been almost a prisoner among the flowers and trees that made the garden so lovely.
But now the gate swung on well-oiled hinges and all the little Girl Scouts were welcome to come and play with Rosanna in her playhouse or ride her fat little pony around the gravelled paths.
The children banged the gate shut behind them and went to the most sheltered spot in the garden, the rose arbor, where they were hidden from view. They threw their school books on the rustic table and settled themselves in two big chairs.
”Now _do go on_,” said Helen with a little thrill in her voice. ”Oh, I _do_ feel that you have thought up something splendid!”
CHAPTER III
”I have been thinking and thinking,” said Rosanna, ”and not an idea have I had until just now. Here is what I just thought up.