IN THE HOSPITAL.
EM came back within the hour. He found his Meg awake and calm. She had had some breakfast, and was now lying with her hand clasped in little Dickie's with a serene smile on her face.
As for the child, he lay on the soft white pillow with his eyes closed from the light, dozing occasionally and then rousing just enough to understand the tender care that surrounded him, and to realize that he need have no fear now.
"Cherry," he said, without moving, hearing Jem's entrance and believing it to be his sister, "is this what ye asked Jesus to send me?"
"Yes," answered Cherry, who was standing on the other side of the bed, "only I didn't know as the Lord Jesus would send anything so very nice as this."
Dickie assented, adding with a little sigh of satisfaction, "I never want to get up no more."
"You shall lie here as long as you like," said Meg assuringly. "Now, Dickie, open your eyes and look at Jem."
"I can't open my eyes," answered Dickie, "'cause they hurt so; but I'm glad fa'ver-Jem has come back."
"Am I to be 'father-Jem'?" asked the man, bending down to look closer into the little face.