The weeks went by, and gradually the white face took on a tinge of color. Still more weeks went by and the pillows were forsaken for the chair, and gradually Gloria crept back to the life waiting for her. Uncle Em and she had had little snatches of talks.
“It shall be straightened; it shall be made beautiful, this crooked way of ours!” her guardian assured her.
And Gloria had answered with a smile. In the olden days it would have been a laugh, but Gloria must wait for strength to laugh.
It was on a clear early September morning that Uncle Em and Aunt Em took Gloria on her first drive. The small figure of the District Nurse sat beside Aunt Em on the back seat. Gloria sat with Uncle Em.
“Which way?” Uncle Em awaited orders. He did not look at Gloria, but Gloria looked at him. Her eyes were shining.
“As if you didn't know!” she cried. “As if I hadn't been holding my breath to go to the New Street!” But at the corner, as they were about to turn, she caught at the reins. “No, let's leave that for the dessert, the New Street. I'd rather, after all. We'll go to Dinney's House first, Uncle Em.”
Uncle Em nodded gravely. “So much the better,” he said. “Gives 'em time to lay a few more bricks on New Street.”
The radiance of the day seemed to have entered into Gloria. Her laugh ran on in a little silver stream, and people plodding up and down the sidewalks turned and laughed in sheer sympathy.
“It feels so good to get back!” Gloria cried. “As if I had been a long way off. Why doesn't somebody point out the 'sights'? That big stone building, now—”
“The library,” said Uncle Em, and again Gloria's sweet-toned laugh rippled out.