Still Doodles hesitated. What if he should fail! His heart—the Doctor’s heart would break with disappointment! He looked beyond Dr. Dudley, to where Miss Eden stood smiling him courage. His eyes passed along to the doorway—Polly was peeping round the corner! He put a foot forward—wavered—then the other!
“He’s walking! he’s walking!” piped Polly.
While Doodles reached the Doctor’s arms, and breathed ecstatically:—
“God has answered!”
CHAPTER XXVII
“AULD LANG SYNE”
On the Saturday before New Year’s Day Doodles went home. Giles Gaylord and his wife came for him, and he wore his Christmas presents from Miss Fleming, a long fur coat and a cap to match. The nurses pressed about him with happy words, Dr. Dudley walked beside him to the door, while Miss Eden and Polly went as far as the car and then scampered back to linger at the window for a last good-bye.
The air was keen, but Doodles, snug beneath the robes, was warm as need be.
Giles drove fast. In a little while they passed the postoffice in Carleton, then the granite church at Berryville, and not long afterwards the outskirts of Foxford came in sight.
Doodles grew eager as familiar objects were whizzed by. When the car turned into Cherry Street he sat motionless, looking ahead where The Flatiron showed in the distance.