longing.

Her face burst into radiance.

"Oh, will you!" she exclaimed. "It will make me so happy, happy,
I shan't know what to do!"

Colonel Gresham was very pale, but Polly did not notice. She was
looking through rose-colored glasses.

"Is David still at the hospital?" the Colonel inquired.

"Yes, sir; he stays in Dr. Dudley's office now, to answer the
telephone and attend to things. He's almost well."

"Well enough to walk over here, think?"

"Oh, yes, sir!" Polly beamed.

"Suppose you run and fetch him then. Say to him that I should
like to make his acquaintance."

Polly needed no urging for such a blissful errand, and in her
excitement failed to hear the Doctor's approaching footsteps. At
the threshold she nearly ran into his arms.

"Why such haste, Thistledown? Have you and Colonel Gresham
quarreled?"

"Oh, no! I'm going after David. Do you care if he leaves the
office for just a little while?"

"Certainly not. Tell him from me that he can come."

If the Doctor felt any surprise, neither his voice nor his face
showed it.

It cost Polly a deal of talk to convince David that his uncle had
actually sent for him, and then, after he had said that he would
go, he was afraid that his clothes were not just right for such a
visit.

"Never mind you clothes!" cried Polly. "He'll never know what
you have on."

"Well, I must brush my hair," delayed the boy, dreading the
ordeal before him.

"Oh, you hair's well enough! Don't flat it down! It's so pretty
as it is now--all curly and fluffy!"

So they were finally started, Polly talking so fast that David had
small chance for nervousness or fear.

Dr. Dudley was not in sight when the children entered Colonel
Gresham's room, and Polly made a silent wild guess regarding his
speedy going away. To David's pleasure the Colonel received him
as he would have received any other lad whom Polly had brought for
a call. There was no reference to his mother or to their kinship,
and the boy began at once to feel at ease. He inquired about his
recent injury and his stay at the hospital, and then, by a chance
remark of Polly's, the subject of David's church singing was
brought up.

Conversation had not begun to flag, when Polly spied the Doctor's
auto at the curb. Mrs. Collins was stepping out!

David's sentence broke off square in the middle; but Colonel
Gresham did not appear to notice. Footsteps neared the door, and
the children sat breathless;