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.