Her beseeching tone and her helplessness touched some unsuspected chord in her listener's breast.
“Jewel, don't you want to go out to the stable with me and feed Essex Maid with sugar?” he asked.
“Yes, grandpa,” with a half sob.
“You don't want me to be unhappy and worried about you when I get into my office?”
“No, grandpa.”
“And you liked Dr. Ballard, I'm sure, when you came out with him on the train day before yesterday.”
“Day before yesterday! Oh, was it? It seems a year ago! But I wanted to come and see you so much I was willing to let father and mother go away, and I never thought that I wouldn't know when error was getting hold of me.
“Well, never mind now, Jewel. Dr. Ballard will help you, and as soon as you get well I'll take you for a fine long drive, if you'll be good. I'm sure you don't want to trouble me.”
“No.” Another half sob caught the child's throat. “Here is something I bought for you yesterday, grandpa.” She drew from under the further pillow the yellow chicken, somewhat disheveled, and put it in his hand. “I meant to give it to you last night, but Mrs. Forbes kept me upstairs because she thought she ought to make me sorry, and so I couldn't.”
The stockbroker cleared his throat as he regarded his new possession. “It was kind of you, Jewel,” he returned. “I shall stand it on my desk. Now—ahem”—looking around the big empty room, “you won't be lonely, I hope, until the doctor comes?”