Part 34 (2/2)
Just then the doctor came to take her to the room prepared, where a pleasant-faced nurse was in waiting.
Some hours afterwards, when Dr. Norman's task was done, and poor little Sophy lay white but peaceful on her bed, she looked up at the nurse, saying with a whimsical smile--
”I should like to see the grumpy man.”
”And so you shall, my dear,” was the nurse's hasty a.s.surance. ”Whoever can that be?” she muttered under her breath.
”Why, the grumpy man downstairs,” reiterated Sophy.
”Would it be right?” questioned her father, who knelt by the bed, holding a small hand clasped firmly in his own.
”I'll see what the doctor says,” replied the nurse, retiring into the adjoining room.
She speedily returned to say that Dr. Norman would go down himself to bring up old Mr. Waldron.
Sophy turned a pale face contentedly to her father.
”Dear dadums,” she whispered, ”now you will see my friend. He is not such a bad old man, though he does grunt sometimes.”
For answer Philip Waldron bowed his head upon the hand he held, and waited.
Soon steps and voices were heard outside.
”Is this the room? A terrible way up! Why didn't you put her a floor lower? Quieter?--oh, well, have your own way!”
The doctor and Mr. Waldron entered. In the half-light of the room the little figure on the bed was dimly visible. Both men paused while the doctor laid a professional hand on the child's pulse.
”She is all right,” he remarked rea.s.suringly.
”So you wanted to see me,” began Mr. Waldron, looking down at the small head where it lay on the pillow. ”How pale she is!” he e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed to himself. ”I hope they have treated her properly!”
”Quite properly, thank you,” replied Sophy, answering his half-whisper.
”I wanted you to see my daddy.”
Mr. Waldron noticed for the first time the bowed head on the other side of the bed.
”Yes,” continued Sophy, following his glance. ”This is my daddy, and he wants to help me say 'Thank you.' For Dr. Norman has told me how kind you are, if you are sometimes grumpy.”
Philip Waldron slowly raised his head and stood up, facing his father across the bed.
”Philip!”
”Yes, sir.”
”Is it possible?”
”I did not intend you should find me here,” said Philip, his voice hoa.r.s.e with emotion, ”but it was her wish to see you; and I--I can go away.”
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