Part 19 (1/2)

”And it was just like a fairy story,” said Helen, telling her mother about it afterwards, ”because even while the nurse was telling how the little girl had not spoken a word, or even looked at anybody, Rosanna just opened those big eyes of hers, and said, 'h.e.l.lo, Helen!' And I simply didn't know what to say, so I just said 'h.e.l.lo,' too.”

It was indeed Rosanna, and Rosanna was herself again, aside from a very badly b.u.mped head that had come near being a very seriously hurt head.

She was too weak and ill to seem to wonder why she was in a hospital room with a couple of trained nurses feeling of her pulse, and dear Mrs.

Hargrave with the tears rolling down her faintly pink old cheeks.

All Mrs. Hargrave said was, ”We will be back in a minute, Rosanna,” and shooed everybody out into the hall, even the stern superintendent.

”Now then,” said Mrs. Hargrave with one peek back to see that the nurse that had stayed was doing her full duty, ”now the thing is, how are we going to get her home?”

”Oh, she can't go home,” said the superintendent in a shocked voice.

”She ought to stay here for three or four days anyway.”

”Fiddle-dee-_dee_!” said Mrs. Hargrave. ”Home is the place for her, and besides I have reasons for wanting her to be under the care of her grandmother right away.”

”I can't take the responsibility,” said the superintendent stubbornly.

”You will have to see the house doctor, Mrs. Hargrave.”

”Very well,” said Mrs. Hargrave. She turned to a nurse pa.s.sing. ”Go get Doctor Smith, my dear; tell him Mrs. Hargrave wants him at once.”

Doctor Smith came sooner than the superintendent hoped he would.

”Well,” he said, ”if it is possible to get her home without jarring her, I think it would be a good thing. Her head is not injured, but her nerves are shaken, and if she can be at home in her own room she will regain her strength very quickly. I want you to take a trained nurse with you, however.”

”Of course!” said Mrs. Hargrave briskly, ”Now how shall we take her? In an ambulance, or can we manage in the car? It is very large.”

”Could one of you hold her?” said the doctor.

”I can and will,” said Minnie decidedly. ”I know just how she likes to be held, the lamb!”

”Then she can go now if you like,” said the doctor, and the superintendent pursed up her mouth and stalked downstairs, scorning the elevator.

How smoothly Mr. Culver drove that car! Not a jounce or b.u.mp disturbed the pale little patient, and he ”drove the car at a walk” as Mrs.

Hargrave had asked him.

When they reached home, Mrs. Hargrave asked Rosanna if she could be comfortable there for a couple of minutes, and seeing her nod feebly, she went briskly into the house. She looked into the library. Mrs.

Horton, exhausted by her regrets and sorrow, had fallen into a heavy sleep.

Quickly Mrs. Hargrave went back and beckoned. Mr. Culver gathered Rosanna up in his arms, and with Minnie leading the way, carried her to her pretty room. She gave a sigh of happiness when she felt herself tucked into her own soft, pleasant bed, and a tear squeezed itself from under her closed lids, but it was a tear of joy.

Mrs. Hargrave returned to the library and sat down. It was a half hour before Mrs. Horton awoke.

”No news?” she asked with a groan.

”The best in the world!” said Mrs. Hargrave, patting her friend's hand.

”The best in the world, Virginia, and you must take it bravely.”

”Tell me quickly,” begged Mrs. Horton. ”They have found her? Where is my child?”

”Yes, we have found her,” said Mrs. Hargrave, ”and she is in her own little bed upstairs.”