"Want to come downstairs?" he invited, crossing over to her.
Still smiling, she shook her head, putting her finger to her lips.
With a puzzled look, the Doctor turned to Miss Price.
"What's happened?" he queried. "Has Polly suddenly become dumb? Or is it a game?"
"She is being punished," was the grave answer.
"Oh!" he replied. "Well, when she has been punished enough, please send her down to me."
He strode away, without one word of David, to Polly's overwhelming disappointment.
In half an hour Miss Price said, "Polly, you may go now."
She bounded off, with not even a backward glance, and the children felt lonelier than before. But Polly's mind was too full of David for her to think of the rest.
To her surprise the Doctor was not in his office; but upon a book of bright color she spied a tiny note with her name on it. Catching it up eagerly, she read:—