"

Polly felt that she was dismissed, yet she had promised the nurse
to remain. She hesitated a moment, and then said, "Good-bye,"
and went out. She met Miss Parkin in the hall, and explained.

Up in the ward, Miss Lucy was quick to see that Polly was
troubled.

"How did the story go?" she asked.

"I don't know," Polly sighed. "I guess she did n't like it,
'cause she seemed to be thinking about something else, and she
said I need n't stay any longer. I thought it would make her
happier," she lamented, "and all it did was to tire her!"
Polly's eyes were brimming over with tears.

"Never mind, dear," said Miss Lucy comfortingly. "You did your
part, and as well as you could; that's all any of us can do. So
don't worry about it. There's Brida looking this way, as if she
were just longing to talk with you."

"She shan't wait another minute," smiled, and off she skipped,
to make Brida and her followers merry.

Chapter VIII

A warning From Aunt Jane

Towards noon came a telephone call for Polly to go down to Dr.
Dudley's office. Usually she sped gladly to obey such a summons;
now she was assailed by a sudden fear.

"Have I made her very much worse?" was her instant inquiry, as
the Doctor opened his door?

"Made whom worse?" he questioned.

"Why, Mrs. Jocelyn!"

"I have heard nothing from her. What is it?"

Polly told of her visit and of the reading.

"Is that all!" the Doctor laughed. "Don't worry about it any
more, little girl! Your stories are not the kind that harm
people. What did you read? One that I know?"

"I don't think so," Polly replied. "I did n't tell you about
Prince Benito, did I?"

The physician shook his head. "Suppose you tell it to me now,"
he suggested.

So, perched comfortably upon the arm of his chair, Polly related
the story of "The Wonderful White Flower."

"I see," he mused, as Polly stopped speaking. He was silent a
moment. Then he went on.

"Mrs. Jocelyn lost her only child, a beautiful little boy, when
he was eight years old. It is not unlikely that this story
awakened tender memories."

"I'm sorry I made her feel bad," grieved Polly.

"I would n't be if I were you."

A "Why!" of wonder was rounding Polly's lips, as the physician
continued:--

"Perhaps you have done Mrs. Jocelyn more good than you will ever
know. Since her husband and little boy died she has shut people
out of her life, seldom leaving her home, and rarely entertaining
a guest.