"There!" he said, as he dropped it into the letter box. "I'm interfering with other people's business again; but I think my father would have done the same."
On his return home he sought Mrs. Metherell, and told her who Mrs. Blundell was, and how he had acted. The good lady threw up her hands in astonishment as she exclaimed:
"Good gracious, Mr. Blewett! I never heard anything like it in my life! It's Providence, sir, that's what it is! First your meeting Maggie and giving her that doll; then my party, and you and the child both being there; and now her mother recognising you! There's no such thing as chance, sir; we walk on blindly trying to feel our way, and all the time there's a hand that's guiding our footsteps, though we mayn't realise it at the time!"
"Do you think I have done wisely in writing to the old man?" he asked, a trifle anxiously.
"Well, sir," was the laconic reply, "we'll wait and see."
[CHAPTER VIII]
THE RESULTS OF JIM BLEWETT'S INTERFERENCE
"MOTHER! Do you really mean it? Oh, mother! Will God really make me well some day?"
It was little Annie Blundell who spoke, in eager, excited tones. The young medical student and his friend, the clever surgeon, had just gone away, leaving behind them an atmosphere of hope and joy. In time, Annie would grow stronger, and perhaps quite well. That had been the doctor's verdict, which the mother had heard with heartfelt thankfulness.
"Yes," Mrs. Blundell said, in answer to Annie's agitated questions, "if all goes well, my dear little invalid daughter will be able to run about like her sister one of these days; only we must do all the kind doctor says, and follow his directions."