'em fixed again."

Mother Bab said little about the hopes Phoebe had raised, but the girl
knew how the woman built upon having sight for a glad surprise for
David.

"I'm afraid the fifty dollars won't reach," she said the day before they
were to take the trip to Philadelphia.

"Don't worry about that. Those big doctors usually have hearts to match.
I told you there are generous people who give lots of money to
hospitals."

"And I guess the hospitals pay the doctors then," offered the woman.

"I guess so," Phoebe agreed. Her conscience smote her for the deception
she was practicing on the dear white-capped woman. "But what's the use
of straining at every little gnat of a falsehood," she thought, "when
I'm swallowing camels wholesale?"

She managed to secure a short interview with Dr. Munster before the
examination of Mother Bab's eyes.

"I want to ask you what the operation is going to cost, hospital charges
and all," she said frankly.

"At least five hundred dollars."

Phoebe's year in the city had taught her many things. She showed no
surprise at the amount named. "That will be satisfactory, Dr. Munster.
But I want to ask you, please don't tell Moth--Mrs. Eby anything about
it. I--it's to be paid by a friend. I know Mrs. Eby would almost faint
if she knew so much money was going to be spent for her. She knows that
many hospitals have free rooms and thinks some operations are free. I
left her under that impression. You understand?"

The big doctor understood. "Yes, I see. Well, we'll run this one chance
to cover and make a fight. I wish I could promise more," he said.

"Thank you. I know you'll succeed. I'm sure she'll see again!"

True to his promise Dr. Munster answered Mother Bab so tactfully that
she came out of his office feeling that "the physician is the flower of
our civilization, that cheerfulness and generosity are a part of his
virtues."

The optimism in Phoebe's heart tinged the blind woman's with its cheery
faith. "I figure it this way," the girl said; "we'll do all we can and
then if we fail there's time enough to be resigned and say it's God's
will."

"Phoebe, you're a wonderful girl! Your name means _shining_, and that
just suits you. You're doing so much for me. Why, you didn't even want
to let me pay your carfare down here!"

The girl winced again. "I must learn to wince without showing it," she
thought, "for after she sees she'll keep saying such things and I can't
spoil it all by