CHAPTER XXVI
THE DAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS
"Well, I never expected to forgive him--he was so mean and obstinate--"
The unpleasant, treble voice of Miss Jane Pumfret was interrupted by thelower tones of Major Dale.
"But, my dear woman," he said, "Captain Mayberry is not responsible--he issick, mentally and physically."
"Well, I'll see," and she arose to go, "I am not much of a hand at makingup, anyway."
"But if you could have seen how he begged me to send for you. He seemed tofear you would be angry with him for leaving the old place."
"Angry? More likely to be scared to death. I could not believe the oldstage driver that you had really brought him to a hospital. Well, I mustbe going." She was almost at the door. "Don't mention my name to him, ifyou please."
Major Dale was at his wits' end. He feared the old captain would be beyondconsolation if he did not do as he had promised--send Miss Pumfret to himat once.
Dorothy was just on the stairs. At a glance she understood that her fatherhad failed to bring about a reconciliation between Captain Mayberry andhis sister. She approached them.
"You are Miss Pumfret, I know," she began, without waiting for herfather's introduction. "Isn't it perfectly splendid?--the news fromCaptain Mayberry, I mean. He seemed as pleased as a child when I promisedhim a merry Christmas, and to-morrow morning I am going into the hospitalto make sure he gets it. Won't you come with me? He will be delighted tosee you, I am sure."
Miss Pumfret looked at the impetuous girl who was going to make sure herbrother had a merry Christmas.
"You see," hurried on Dorothy, taking advantage of the moment to furtherpress her request, "we just had the place ready for him. We gave a play,and had a new bed at our disposal."
"My brother a charity patient!" exclaimed the woman. "Why, there's plentyof money in the property, but I won't touch pen to paper to sign--"
"Of course, we can take care of him," interrupted Dorothy; "but I thoughtmaybe you would like to make him a little Christmas present--it isvisiting day to-morrow and the day before Christmas."
Little Miss Pumfret glared at Dorothy. Then she stepped back and sank downon the hall seat. "Well," she exclaimed finally, "I'm an old-fashionedwoman. Never was used to youngsters' interference, but I like your cheek(this was said with evident sincerity and no idea of being frivolous).I've just a good mind--"
"Oh, do, do, Miss Pumfret! Come with me to-morrow and tell him you willsell Tanglewood Park and--fix it all up--"
"How you do race on! But it's getting late. Perhaps--"
"I'll meet you at the ten o'clock train," went on Dorothy, while evenMajor Dale was forced to smile at her impetuosity. "I have so many placesto go, but I am going to the hospital first."
Miss Pumfret put out her hand--it shook visibly.
"Little girl," she said, "you are right. You have said it all for me. Cometo-morrow and say it all over again to--Nick."
Tears fell down the old pinched cheeks, but Dorothy kissed them away. Shehad found the path to Jane Pumfret's affection--it was cheek, just plaincheek, sometimes called courage.
Yes, it was late, but Dorothy still had Tavia to console--if only shecould insist upon Tavia spending Christmas at The Cedars--Dorothy hadunlimited faith in the magic of the day before Christmas. Nat called toher as she started up to Tavia's room.
"I say, Doro, maybe I--could help. I'd like to tell her it's all right. Iwas mean about it. You know, Tavia and I went--in it--together."
"Oh," replied Dorothy vaguely, "I really don't know what you mean."
Nat saw that he was about to betray a secret. He thought, naturally, thatTavia had confided fully in Dorothy.
"Oh, I just meant," he stammered, "that if I can say anything to makeTavia feel--more at home, you know--don't hesitate to ask me."
Tavia was at the head of the stairs looking straight at him.
"Thanks!" she spoke up, all the tears evidently gone. "But if it's all thesame to both of you, I would prefer that you keep your pretty saying forChristmas. I'm just dead tired, and fully expect to be asleep in exactlyten minutes."
Dorothy saw that the sudden burst of gloom had been overcome, and knewthat Tavia would actually be as good as her word and asleep in tenminutes.
"Good-night, then," called Nat, "and don't forget that to-morrow is theday before Christmas."
"Good-night," added Dorothy, "and don't forget you are to attend toeverything to-morrow while I am in the city. See what it is to be on acharity committee! I'll have to have a substitute help with all the mostimportant things--there's heaps to be done yet."
"Good--nig-h-t!" drawled Tavia with a forced yawn. "I am not sure that Iwill wake up until the day after Christmas."
"To bed! To bed, every one!" called Mrs. White, and then both troubles andpleasant anticipations for a happy ending to the queer holiday becamehopelessly tangled in the dreams of the young folks at The Cedars.
Dorothy's last clear thought was: "To-morrow something must happen to makeit all right, for to-morrow is the day before Christmas."
The sun was streaming in her window when she opened her eyes. She jumpedup with a start, for she was to get an early train, go first to thehospital, then search out the wretched Miss Dearing.
"I could never be happy on Christmas, and think perhaps she might bestarving. When I find her I will-- But how can I tell what I may have todo?"
Hurriedly she partook of breakfast and jumped into the depot cart that Nathad driven up to the door.
"Take care that Tavia does not worry," Dorothy cautioned the young man. "Iknow she has a trouble, and I am sure somehow it will be all adjusted byto-night. I depend upon the witches of Christmas Eve."
Nat laughed and assured her he "would keep track of Tavia." Then the trainsteamed in, and Dorothy was gone.
"Suppose she fails to meet me," mused the girl, whose very red cheeks werethe source of some remarks from a lady in the opposite seat.
Dorothy always looked pretty, but she looked charming when the clear redblood rose to her cheeks and made her deep blue eyes flash like stars,actually ignited with the torch of anticipation.
"But I am sure she will be there. Miss Pumfret is the sort of woman Ishould think would never break her word."
Nor was she disappointed in her estimate; Jane Pumfret waited--even had acab ready to drive with Dorothy to the hospital, there to see the newpatient, Captain Nick Mayberry.
"Perhaps I had better go first and prepare him," suggested Dorothy as theyreached the door of the private room and saw the one spotless bed--thegift of the young ladies' auxiliary.
"No need, dear," objected Miss Pumfret. "Now that I've made up my mind toit I actually can't wait."
The next moment Dorothy drew back to allow brother and sister their ownhappy moment--Jane Pumfret had the old white-haired man in her arms, wasembracing him like a child, and the nurse smiled in complete satisfactionas she, too, stepped aside with Dorothy.
"That is all he wants," she said, "He has worried constantly, and I was soafraid she would not come--I know Miss Pumfret."
Just then the telephone rang. The nurse picked up the receiver. Shelistened to the call from the office. Then she answered:
"I'm awfully sorry, but I cannot see how we can take her. We haven't asingle public bed unoccupied."
She waited a moment, then resumed: "Poor thing. I hate to have you turnher away, but what can we do?"
"A bed," thought Dorothy. "Why, of course, Miss Pumfret will provide aprivate one for her brother, and perhaps--"
But she did not wait to think further.
"Nurse," she interrupted, her voice carrying through the 'phone, "perhapsthat patient could have our bed. Captain Mayberry is to go to the privatewing."
In a few words the nurse gathered Dorothy's meaning.
Then she told the matron, speaking through the transmitter, to hold theapplicant.
"Would you like to come with me?" she asked Dorothy, as she prepared tointerview t
he prospective patient. "Miss Pumfret will be here for sometime yet."
Down the broad marble steps, that seemed to exude everything antisepticand sterilized, Dorothy hurried along after the head nurse. Into a largehall, then across this into a small waiting-room they passed.
"The patient is only ill from neglect and nervous exhaustion," explainedthe nurse, "or I would not invite you down."
A second white-capped and white-robed attendant opened the door. Dorothystepped in first. A woman sat on a leather chair in the far corner of theroom.
"She is very weak," explained the second nurse to the first, "and I reallywas afraid to let her go."
The woman raised her head.
"Miss Dearing!" exclaimed Dorothy, too surprised to suppress herastonishment, "Why, I am so--glad I have found you!"
The woman tried to open her lips, but a sudden movement of her head showedthat she had fainted.
"And you know her?" asked the nurses, quickly restoring the woman toconsciousness with simple restoratives.
"Slightly," replied Dorothy. "I will wait to see how she gets along."
From the scene in the waiting-room Dorothy hurried back to the side ofCaptain Mayberry. She wanted to ask Miss Pumfret about the bed.
"Oh, here you are!" exclaimed the little woman pleasantly. "I was justtelling Nick what a girl you are. Perhaps you can tell us how to go aboutgetting him into the private ward. He liked it first-rate here," shehurried to explain, "but there's no sense in keeping this bed from someone who may need it."
Dorothy touched the button at the door to call an attendant. It was thehead nurse who answered.
"We can have this bed," stammered Dorothy, scarcely able to speak throughher excitement. "Miss Pumfret wishes Captain Mayberry removed to theprivate wing."
"That will do nicely," answered the nurse, smiling. "Your friend has beentaken into the observation ward. She will remain there until her case isdiagnosed. It was providential that you spoke when you did, or she mighthave fainted in the street if we had turned her away, and we are notallowed to take patients who apply as she did, unless they are vouchedfor. You see, it was well you happened to know her."
"Could I speak with her?" asked Dorothy timidly.
"That is precisely what I came up for. She wants very much to speak withyou."