Sterling who interrupted, and she smiled--"I
should very much like to hear that cheer now."
_"Ma'am!"_ exclaimed the little doctor, gazing at her over his
spectacles.
"Oh, it would do me good, I assure you," said Mrs. Sterling, leaning back
in a satisfied way against her pillows. "So, if you please, boys, let me
hear it at once"--smiling at them.
And they gave it then and there, the poor mother in all this confusion
getting time to recover herself.
And then three more for the little doctor. And then one of the boys, the
least likely to have courage to propose it, piped out:
"Let's give her three"--pointing to the hostess.
How pleased the poor invalid was, and how she beamed at them all! And when
Doctor Fisher saw that, he was so well satisfied that he shook hands with
them all quite around the circle.
"Now I must go. I'll look in again on your boy in an hour. Madam"--to Mrs.
Keep. "Meantime, I'd stay over here, for I've sent for a nurse from the
hospital; he must be kept quiet a spell. Good-day," and he was off.
"Now, boys"--there was a pretty pink spot in either cheek, as Mrs. Sterling
turned to them--"do you know, I've thought of a plan by which you might do
something for Lawrence?"
"What--oh, what?" They crowded up to her sofa. Gibson, from the doorway
where she had retreated, to be within call, looked a little anxious, but
catching a glance from her mistress, smoothed out her face again.
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