David's shriek and George's outcry brought the feminine household

running and exclaiming, and at the sight of the bruised hand, with one

hanging, helpless finger, Helena gathered the quivering little body

into her arms, and forgot everything but the child's pain. George was

rushed off for William King, and Mrs. Richie and the two women hung

over the boy with tears and tender words and entreaties "not to cry"!

David, in point of fact, stopped crying long before they did; but, of

course, he cried again, poor little monkey! during the setting of the

tiny bone, though William King was as gentle and determined as was

necessary, and David, sitting in Helena's lap, responded to the demand

for courage in quite a remarkable way. Indeed, the doctor noticed that

Mrs. Richie quivered more than the child did. It was nearly eleven

before it was all over, and William went off, smiling at Helena's

anxiety, for she accompanied him to the gate, begging for directions

for impossible emergencies. When he had driven away, she flew back to

the house; but at the door of David's room looked at her watch, and

exclaimed. Lloyd was due in half an hour! What should she do?

"Dear-precious," she said, kneeling down beside the little boy, "Sarah

shall come and sit with you while Mr. Pryor is here; you won't mind if

I am not with you?"

David, who had begun to whimper again, was too interested in himself

to mind in the least. Even when she said, distractedly, "Oh, there's

the stage!" his unhappiness was not perceptibly increased. Helena,

calling Sarah to come and sit with the invalid, ran down-stairs to

meet her guest. There had been no time to make herself charming; her

face was marked by tears, and her dress tumbled by David's little

wincing body. Before she could reach the gate, Lloyd Pryor had opened

it, and, unwelcomed, was coming up the path. His surprised glance

brought her tumultuous and apologetic explanation.

"Oh, I'm sorry!" he said kindly; "I must console him with a new

dollar; don't you think a dollar will be healing?"

She laughed and possessed herself of his hand.

"You run a sort of hospital, Nelly, don't you? I must be a Jonah; it

was your cook the last time. How is she? I trust we are to have enough

food to sustain life?"

"I meant to have such a fine dinner," she said, "but we've all been so

distracted about David, I'm afraid things won't be as extraordinary as

I planned. However, it will 'sustain life'!--Though you could go to

Dr. King's again," she ended gayly.




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