CHAPTER XIV.
Lulu's first thought on awaking the next morning was of dear GrandmaElsie. "I wonder," she said to herself, "if papa has not been askingnews of her through the telephone; oh, I hope she is getting well!"
Hurrying through the duties of the toilet, she was ready to run to meether father when presently she heard his steps in the hall without.
"Good-morning, papa," she cried. "Oh, have you heard from Ion howGrandma Elsie passed the night?"
"Yes," he said, bending down to give her a good-morning kiss, "shepassed a very comfortable night; is thought to be doing as well aspossible. Mamma Vi and our little ones are all right also; I have justhad a talk with your mamma, through the telephone."
"Oh, I am glad! How nice it is that we can talk in that way to the folksat Ion and the other places where Mamma Vi's relations live!"
"Yes; a telephone is really a blessing under such circumstances. I ammuch more reconciled to being at some short distance from my wife andlittle ones than I could be if without such means of communication."
They went down to the library together and seating himself he drew herto his knee, saying pleasantly, "You are the youngest child at home withme, and I think I must have you here. I hope you will never thinkyourself too old to sometimes sit on your father's knee."
"No, papa, I'm sure I never shall while you are willing to let me," shereplied, putting an arm round his neck and gazing lovingly into hiseyes.
They chatted for a few minutes, then the breakfast bell rang, andpresently they were again seated at the little round table from whichthey had eaten last night's supper, Lulu pouring the coffee with a verygrown-up air, while her father filled her plate and his own with thetempting viands.
"What a lovely, delightful home we have, papa!" she remarked, as shehanded him his cup. "I do really think that with such a father and sucha home I ought to be the best girl in the world; and I do mean to try tobe."
"I have no doubt you do, daughter, and I have seldom had occasion tofind serious fault with you in the last year or more, so that I am by nomeans in despair of seeing you gain control of that troublesome temperwhich has caused so much unhappiness to both you and me."
"Oh, thank you for saying it, papa!" she returned, with a bright andjoyous smile. "I'm determined to try my very best to be as good aspossible, both to please you and to earn that visit to Annapolis thatyou spoke of last night. I think it will be very delightful; and howpleased Max will be to see us; especially you."
"I think he will. Ah, here comes the mail-bag!" as a servant enteredwith it.
"Oh, I hope there's a letter from Max," Lulu said, as her father openedthe bag and took out the contents--papers, magazines, and letters.
"Yes, here is one from our dear boy," he said, singling out a letter andhastily tearing it open.
He read it first to himself, then aloud to her--a bright, cheery,boyish, affectionate epistle such as they were accustomed to receivefrom Max's pen.
They talked it over together while they finished their breakfast, thenreturned to the library where, as usual, Christine, Alma, and theservants being called in, the captain led the family devotions, readinga portion of the Scripture and engaging in prayer.
"Are you going immediately to Ion, papa?" asked Lulu, when again theywere alone together.
"No," he replied; "I have some matters to attend to here while you arepreparing your lessons. After hearing them, if your recitations andconduct have been satisfactory, I intend taking you with me to thevillage, where I have to make some business arrangements; then we willdrive to Ion, spend a little time there, then come home, probablybringing your little sisters and brother with us as we did the otherday, returning them as before to your Mamma Vi, just in time for supperand bed, and coming home alone together."
"Oh, I like that, papa!" she exclaimed, "and is it what you intend doingevery day?"
"Every day while your Grandma Elsie is so ill that the noise mightdisturb her; unless the weather should be quite too inclement, I thinkit will be a relief to your Mamma Vi to have them here a good deal ofthe time, till her mother is better.
"I suppose so, papa; and at the same time very pleasant for us--they aresuch darlings!"
"So you and I think," he said, with a smile. "Now go to your lessons,daughter."
At Ion Grandma Elsie lay quietly sleeping, her three daughters watchingover her with tenderest care and solicitude. Scarce a sound was to beheard, either within doors or without, save the distant lowing ofcattle, the twittering of birds, and the gentle sighing of the wind inthe treetops; family and servants moved with cautious tread, speakingseldom, and that with bated breath, lest they should disturb her who wasso dear to all hearts.
To Walter it seemed very hard to be shut out of mamma's room, and he saton the veranda watching for the coming of Cousin Arthur, to petition foradmittance, if only for a moment, just to look at her and come awayagain.
Cousin Arthur had been with her through the night, had gone away earlyin the morning and was expected back again soon.
The half hour spent in watching and waiting seemed very long indeed tothe little lad, but at last, oh joy! there was Cousin Arthur's sulkyturning in at the great gates; then it came swiftly up the avenue, andWalter rose and hastened to meet the doctor as he alighted.
"O Cousin Arthur!" he cried, but in subdued tones, "they've shut me outof mamma's room and I just don't know how to stand it any longer. Mayn'tI go in, if it's only for a minute, to get one look at her dear face? Iwon't speak to her or touch her if you say I must not, but oh, I don'tknow how to endure being kept away from her altogether."
The little fellow's tones were tremulous, and his eyes filled with tearsas he spoke.
Dr. Conly felt for the child, and laying a hand kindly on his head, saidcheerfully, "Don't be down-hearted, my boy, your mother will be wellenough in a few days, I hope, to stand quite an interview with heryoungest son, and perhaps it may do for you to go in for a moment thismorning; you may come upstairs with me and wait in the hall till I seehow she is. If I find her well enough to stand a peep from her boy, youshall go in for a minute, provided you will promise to be cheerful andnot to speak unless you have the doctor's permission."
"Oh, I'll promise to do anything you bid me, if you'll only let me seeher," returned Walter in eager tones, then followed the doctor withnoiseless tread through the hall and up the broad stairway.
Reaching his mother's door, he paused and waited outside while thedoctor went quietly in.
His patient seemed to be asleep, but opened her eyes and smiled up intohis face as he reached the bedside.
"Dear cousin," he said, low and tenderly, "are you feeling quite easynow?"
"Quite so," she answered in low, sweet tones; "all is going right, Ithink. Is it not?"
"Yes, so it would seem. You are the best of patients, and with theabundance of good nursing you are sure to have, I think we will soonhave you about again. But," glancing around upon her three daughters,"she must be kept very quiet, neither talking nor being talked to muchmore than is absolutely necessary.
"However, I am going to allow Walter a moment's sight of his mother, andas he is your baby boy, you may, if you choose, speak half a dozen wordsto him," he added, addressing himself directly to the patient.
Then stepping to the door, he beckoned to Walter, and led him to theside of the bed.
"There, laddie, you may tell her how dearly you love her, but nothingmore."
"Mamma, dear, darling mamma! I couldn't begin to tell it!" Walter said,low and tremulously, just touching his lips to her cheek.
"Mother's darling boy!" was all she said in response, but the eyeslooking into his spoke volumes of mother-love.
"Don't cry, Walter, my man," his cousin said, as he led him out to thehall again; "you have behaved so well that I think you may be allowedanother interview to-morrow; and I hope you will see your mother up andabout again in perhaps a fortnight from this. You must pray for herhealing to the Great Physician, as we all are do
ing: and pray in faith,for you know the Bible tells us he is the hearer and answerer ofprayer."
"Oh, I will! I do!" sobbed the child, "and I'm so glad there are so manyothers asking for her too, because the Bible says Jesus promised thathis Father would grant what two or three agreed together to ask for."
"Yes; pray for your mother, believe God's promises, and be happy in theexpectation that she will get well; and with a mind at rest interestyourself in your studies and sports. That's my prescription for you, mylad; now go and take it like a good boy," added the doctor, with asmile, as he turned and re-entered the sick-room.
"A funny prescription, and not so bad to take," laughed Walter tohimself, as he wiped away his tears and hastened to the schoolroom toattend to his lessons.
"Nobody here but myself," he sighed, as he crossed the threshold. "It'srather lonesome, but I'll do the best I can. It's what mamma wouldadvise."