The nurse passed on, but Aimee's face remained clouded. Next week—no Pollee!
Other ears besides Aimee's had overheard the news about Polly. Maggie O'Donnell and Otto Kriloff stared at each other in dismay. Why, Polly had been there long before they came! It had never occurred to them that Polly could leave.
When Miss Lucy reached Maggie's bed, the little girl was softly crying.
"I—don't—want—Polly to go!" she sobbed.
"Dear me! Dear me!" exclaimed the nurse, "this will never do!" Then, listening, she whispered, "Hark! Who is that skipping along the hall?"
At the instant, the door opened, and a little girl, her brown eyes shining with pleasure, her cheeks pink as the poppies on the front lawn, and her yellow curls all tossed and tumbled by the wind, whirled into the ward.
"Oh, Polly!" passed, a breath of joy, from lip to lip.
"I've had a lovelicious time!" she began.
"We went 'way down to Rockmoor!—Did you ever ride in an auto, Miss Lucy?"
The nurse nodded happily. It was good to have Polly back.