"Send her up to me, will you? I think she will do me good." And while Rosalie was with her father Doris told Treasure and Zee.
"Just be quiet about it to-night. After a while it will come natural. But we must not talk much, for father feels very badly. Just let him see that we are sorry—and we must all be very positive there is a grand way out for us, and we must find it."
There had never been such sweet and tender harmony in the manse as on that night—the sorrow falling on each one alike drew them very close together. And when they went to bed at last, each one in characteristic way thanked God that there were five to bear the hurt, for grief divided by five, after all, is only one-fifth a grief.
CHAPTER XII FINDING THE PATH
That Mr. MacCammon had suspected the trouble long before he was told of it did not surprise them at all. Somehow they always expected the most unexpected things of him. And he entered into their plans naturally and helpfully, as became one who boasted fairy powers.
"I have a grand idea," announced Doris. "I thought of it just as Mr. MacCammon came in. Not that he has anything to do with it—but the sight of him inspired me."
"Yes, and what is the grand idea?" urged her father, who knew from of old that her ideas were always well worth considering.
"There is only one month of school before vacation, and then we will be a united family to handle you—and fathers take a lot of handling, you know. Now, I think you should ask for your vacation right away—on full pay, you understand—and go to Chicago and have the operation at once. Then by the time school is out the worst will be over. It will be quite easy to fill the pulpit now, because the town will be full of ministers here for commencement, and the trustees' meeting, and such things, and they will be glad to preach when they find how father is taking his vacation."