It was much later in the evening, and Peter was now quite comfortable. The doctor had gone after having set the broken leg and having assured the Starrs that, although the injury was serious, there was nothing about it which need alarm them. The Madisons went home after the doctor came, but Roger intended to return to inquire for the patient. As yet, nothing had been said about the fate of Sirius. Peter had been asking for him ever since he regained consciousness, and his sisters, supposing the dog to be at the barn, had promised to give him his supper. The doctor had left orders that Peter should be kept very quiet, and that Sirius should not be admitted to his room.
Honor was with her brother now, and Katherine and Victoria were in their aunt’s room. She had arrived by the designated train that afternoon, accompanied by her maid, her canaries, and several trunks. The bustle which her coming had caused had scarcely subsided before supper was announced, and then had ensued the excitement about Peter. Now, at half-past eight, she had requested the attendance of Katherine and Victoria in her room while she unpacked and settled herself for the summer.
“I want to talk over your affairs,” said she. “Now that I am really here I wish to be right in your midst. What have you been living on? How much have you made in that ridiculous school and those senseless violets? Why people should spend their money on violets I can’t imagine. They only fade.”
“Don’t you think we had better wait until to-morrow?” suggested Victoria, mildly, as she watched her aunt’s energetic movements about the room. Mrs. Ward had made it clear to them in the beginning that she wished no assistance in her unpacking.
“Then you could talk to Honor about it,” continued Victoria, “and to-night we are so worried about Peter.”
“No need for worry,” rejoined Mrs. Wentworth Ward, briskly. “The boy is in no danger, the doctor said. How he ever got into such a predicament I can’t imagine. If your friends the Madisons hadn’t happened along just when they did—”
“Oh, Aunt Sophia, don’t!” cried Victoria. “It is too horrible to put into words. How can we ever thank the Madisons enough!”
“Do you know how they happened to find him?”
“No, we haven’t heard,” said Victoria, while Katherine added:
“Mr. Madison said he would come back later and tell us all about it.”