Miss Warren's brow cleared.
"These children have some street expressions that are hard to break," she said. "Gabriel is trying very hard to be a gentleman. He got so excited over the soldiers, Miss Ashe, that we had to take them away."
"She says—" Gabriel began, pointing to Blue Bonnet, "she says you got ponies where you live, an' you can ride 'em. Can you?"
Mr. Ashe smiled.
"Yes. Lots of them. Would you like to ride a pony, Gabriel?"
"Bet yer!"
Mr. Ashe rose and took the nurse to one side.
"Just how ill is this child?" he asked, much moved. "Is there any chance for his recovery?"
"Yes—yes, indeed, under the right conditions. He has tuberculosis of the knee. If only a home could be found for him in the country! He's an unusually bright child, and so lovable. I feel sure that he must come from excellent Jewish people, though he was brought here from the tenement district a few months ago—just after his mother died."