“Don’t you worry!” Blue said huskily. “I’ll do all you want me to.”
“I’m sure you’ll do your best, but if I’m not here to help,” she shook her head slowly, “I don’t see how you’re going to get along. The town may want to send you both to the asylum, and I’m afraid Doodles wouldn’t be happy there—oh, I ought not to worry! God will take care of you, but I can’t help feeling anxious. At any rate, keep Doodles with you! You will, won’t you?”
“I’d like to see anybody try to get him away from me!” scouted Blue. “He’d wish he was out o’ the tussle before he was many minutes older!”
The mother smiled faintly. “All right!” she agreed. “I’m glad you feel that way. I’ve always tried to make it as easy for Doodles as I could, and I know you do.”
They sat in silence for a long moment. Then she resumed, “There’s four dollars in my purse; that’ll last you a while. The rent is paid for nearly a month more, and all you’ll want is food. Don’t spend for anything unnecessary, but buy what you need to keep well and strong.”
“I guess I shall do it all up straight,” Blue reassured her. “Say, how you going to get over to the hospital? It’s a good way, and you ain’t able to walk—”
“The doctor said he’d send somebody with a car—another doctor, I believe. He thought it would be easier than the ambulance. He told me to be very careful going downstairs, and to keep still till I went.”
“Ye’d betther be takin’ a bite befure long—it’s all riddy,” broke in Granny’s gentle voice.
Mrs. Stickney could eat nothing, but Blue went as bidden, and tried to keep up a brave show, for the sake of Doodles.
The afternoon was dreary. Blue would not go to school, but stayed with his brother except for the short time that he raced over his paper route. It had been arranged for him to go to the hospital at six o’clock, to learn how his mother had borne her operation and, possibly, to see her for a moment. But an entirely unprecedented accident delayed him. At half-past five the clock stopped, and it was not discovered until long after six. Then Blue caught up his cap, and started on a hard run.