“A big demand,” the Doctor smiled.
“I’m glad to hear that,” was the quiet reply, “for I wish to build one.”
Polly sat up straight and still, her astonished eyes fixed on Mrs. Jocelyn.
“You could hardly put your money to better use,” responded Dr. Dudley.
“So I think; but I wanted your opinion before going further. I have the refusal of the Beecher property west of me; that will give me the whole block. My plan is to put up two buildings, one on each side of my house,—a little to the rear, so as not to cut off the sunlight,—and let this be the connecting link. The head physician can live here, and both parts will be easy of access—what do you say?”
“Admirable plan,” agreed the Doctor. “But, Mrs. Jocelyn, have you estimated the cost? There’ll be practically no end to the expense of keeping up such an establishment.”
“I don’t care anything about that,” was the indifferent reply. “There’s plenty to draw from.” Her face was suddenly swept by a shadow of sadness. “For a long time I have wanted to do something in memory of Lloyd,—something for children,—and this seems to be the most feasible of any plan I’ve thought of. I don’t want it called a hospital either. There is a prejudice among a certain class against the very name. Some people will let their children die, rather than send them to a hospital. So Leonora and I have been choosing—what do you think of this, ‘The Children’s House of Joy’?”
“Isn’t that perfectly beautiful?” whispered Leonora to Polly, catching her hand with a little squeeze.
And so Polly missed her father’s answer; but she knew from the comments of the others that it must have been in favor of the proposed name.