“I’ll do my best, you may be sure. And when you come back, I shall be glad to have a call from you. And by that time she may know us all. Thank you for your sympathy.”
Bridget nodded and turned away. Miss Armitage studied the little girl with a new interest. She had seen beautiful children 82 among the very poor, in the slums, with no ancestry back of them. There was something about this child—not beauty either, that set one to thinking. She must learn something about her.
And then she smiled over the fancy of being Cinderella and dancing with the Prince at the ball. What a happy dream it must have been for the child! She was glad to hear that she had not been badly treated or ill fed. She could trust the kindly Bridget for that.
When the doctor came in Sunday morning a smile lighted up his face.
“A real improvement,” he exclaimed. “No fever and a normal temperature. Pulse stronger. Now, with nourishing diet and some salt in the baths we shall have her about again, though I’ve had several patients lie weeks in this state in the hot weather.”
Marilla glanced up and smiled back.
“Why, I feel all well,” she began. “Couldn’t I get up.”
“Yes,” said Miss Armitage. “Jane will you bring that small pink kimona and put it on.”
She took the doctor over in the bay window. 83
“The Borden’s cook came in to see the child. She seemed very fond of her and said she was the sweetest little thing. And that she was wonderful with the babies. I was glad she had not been ‘put upon’ as they say over to the house. And that she always had enough to eat. And she wasn’t allowed to lift the babies––”