"Well, I'm glad you're back again!" David declared fervently, insisting on carrying her bundle and her little white sweater.
"Better run up to the ward, and let them have a sight of you," the Doctor advised. "Did you tell your uncle?" turning to the lad.
"Yes, sir. And I called up Mrs. Jocelyn, too; but she said she had just heard from you."
Polly's eyes grew wide and grave. Had her friends all been worrying like this?
Dr. Dudley glanced at his watch. "I shall be busy until noon," he said; "but, Polly, I wish you would come down directly after dinner. I want to talk with you."
She went upstairs wondering if the "talk" were to be about going back to Aunt Jane's. She had not reached any conclusion when the sight of Miss Lucy and Leonora put the troublesome matter from their mind.
"My precious!" breathed Miss Lucy in her ear.
"Oh, you darling Polly!" squealed the little lame girl, with a frantic hug. "We thought you must be kid—kid—kid'aped, or whatever 't is!" she ended desperately.
"I was—by Aunt Jane," laughed Polly; "but Dr. Dudley rescued me."
"Maybe he would n't, if it had n't been for Colonel Gresham," returned Leonora, with a shake of her head, as the other children jostled her carelessly, in their eagerness to be at the front.