第32章 DR.BALLARD(2)

The stockbroker cleared his throat as he regarded his new possession.

"It was kind of you,Jewel,"he returned."I shall stand it on my desk.Now--ahem"--looking around the big empty room,"you won't be lonely,I hope,until the doctor comes?""No,I'd like to be alone,I have so much work to do.""Dear me,dear me!"thought Mr.Evringham,"this is very distressing.

She seems to have lucid intervals,and then so quickly gets flighty again.""Besides,I like to think of the Ravine of Happiness,"continued the child,"and the brook.Supposing I could lay my cheek down in the brook now.The water is so cool,and it laughs and whispers such pretty things.""Now if you would try to go to sleep,Jewel,"said Mr.Evringham,"it would please me very much.Good-by.I shall come to see you again to-night."He stooped his tall form and kissed the child's forehead,and her hot lips pressed his hand,then he went out.

At the foot of the stairs he encountered Mrs.Forbes waiting,and hastily put behind him the hand that held the chicken.

"Well,sir?"

"She's very badly off,very badly off,I'm afraid.""I hope not,sir.Children are always flighty if they have a little fever.What about dinner,sir?""Have anything you please,"returned Mr.Evringham briefly."I wish to see Dr.Ballard as soon as he arrives.Tell Zeke I shall not go until the next train."With these words the broker entered his study,and his housekeeper looked after him in amazement.It was the first time she had ever seen him indifferent concerning his dinner.

"I wonder if he thinks she's got something catching,"she soliloquized.Then a sudden thought occurred to her."No great loss without some small gain,"she thought grimly."'T would clear the house."She watched at the window until she saw Dr.Ballard's buggy approaching.Then she opened the door and met him.

"Your little visitor do you say?"asked the young doctor as he greeted her and entered."What mischief has she been up to so soon?""Oh,the usual sort,"returned Mrs.Forbes,and recounted her grievances."She's the oddest child in the world,"she finished,"and her last freak is that she doesn't want to have a doctor.""Dear me,what heresy!"The young man smiled."Which room,Mrs.

Forbes?"

"Please go into the library first,Dr.Ballard.Mr.Evringham is waiting to see you."The broker was sitting before his desk as the doctor entered,and he turned with a brief greeting.

"I'm glad you've come,Ballard.I'm very much troubled about the child.Her father and mother abroad you understand,and I feel the responsibility.She seems very flighty,quite wild in her talk at moments.I wished to warn you that one of her feverish ideas is that she doesn't want a doctor.You will have to use some tact."The physician's face lost its careless smile."Delirious,you say?""Yes,go right up,Guy.I'll wait for you here.It's so sudden.She was quite well,to all appearances,yesterday.""Children are sensitive little mortals,"remarked Dr.Ballard,and then Mrs.Forbes ushered him up to the white room.He asked her to remain within call,and entered alone.

The child's eyes were open as he approached the bed,the black case she remembered in his hand.By her expression he saw that her mind was clear.

"Well,well,Jewel,this isn't the way I meant you to receive me the first time I called,"he said pleasantly,drawing up a chair beside the bed.The child put out her hand to his offered one and tried to smile.As he held the hand he felt her pulse."This isn't the way to behave when you go visiting,"he added.

"I know it isn't,"returned Jewel contritely.

"The next time you go wading in the brook,take off your shoes and stockings,little one,and I think you would better wait until later in the season,anyway.You've made quick work of this business."As he talked the doctor took his little thermometer out of its case."Now then,let me slip this under your tongue.""What is it?"asked Jewel,shrinking.

"What!Haven't you ever had your temperature tried?Well,you have been a healthy little girl!All the better.Just take it under your tongue,and don't speak for a minute,please.""Please don't ask me to.I can't."

"There's nothing to be afraid of.It won't hurt you."The doctor smiled.

"I know what that is now,"said Jewell,regarding the little tube."Aman was cured of paralysis once by having a thing like that stuck in his mouth.He thought it was meant to cure him.I haven't paralysis."The doctor began to consider that perhaps Mr.Evringham had not exaggerated."Come,Jewel,"he said kindly."I thought we were such good friends.You are wasting my time."A moment more of hesitation,and then the child suddenly opened her mouth and accepted the thermometer.She kept her eyes closed during the process of waiting,and at last Dr.Ballard took out the little instrument and examined it.

"Let me see your tongue."

The child stared in surprise.

"Put out your tongue,Jewel,"he repeated kindly.

"But that is impolite,"she protested.

He changed his position.The poor little thing was flighty,and no wonder,with such a temperature.He took her hand again."I'll overlook the impoliteness.Run out your tongue now.Far as you can,dear."The child obeyed.

Presently she said,"I feel very uncomfortable,Dr.Ballard.I don't feel a bit like visiting,so if you wouldn't mindgoing away until Ifeel better.You interrupted me when you came in.I have lots of work to do yet.When I get well I'd just love to see you.I'd rather see you than almost anybody in Bel-Air.""Yes,yes,dear.I'll go away very soon.Where does your throat feel sore?Put your finger on the place."Jewel looked up with all the rebuke she could convey."You ought not to ask me that,"she returned.

Dr.Ballard rose and went to the door."Get me a glass of water,please,Mrs.Forbes.""Not a glass.I want a whole pitcher full right side of me,"said Jewel.