Virginia, who for the last few moments had been busy in another part of the room, turned suddenly and looked intently at her brother as though she were surprised about something. He was usually so serious, so occupied with business that she had forgotten that he could tease. Then her face brightened, and stooping, she kissed him lightly on the forehead. “You are much better, dear, aren’t you?” she said, then taking her friend by the arm, she continued, “Come, Megsy, let’s hie us to our rooms and select the wardrobe we are to take with us. Eleanor’s telegram may come tomorrow and we will then have not more than three days to prepare for the journey.”
CHAPTER XXX
A SCARE
Late that afternoon the two girls went out to feed the hens and then, as was often their custom, they climbed the trail to the mesa that they might watch the sunset. On their return, Margaret gathered a few late desert flowers to place on the table beside Malcolm’s bed. It was still daylight when they returned and Megsy went at once to the closed door and tapped thereon. There was no response. What could it mean? Even if Malcolm had fallen asleep, the rapping would have awakened him. Beckoning to Virginia, she whispered anxiously, “Oh, Virg, what can have happened? Your brother can’t have lost consciousness, could he?”
There was a sudden terror in the heart of Virginia. Leaping forward, she turned the knob, but the door was locked. Before they could be thoroughly frightened, however, they heard a merry laugh, and there stood Malcolm back of them. He had on his nice wooly bathrobe that the girls had given him for Christmas and his comfortable slippers.
“You see,” he apologized, “I’ve never had an opportunity to wear them before, because this is the first time I’ve ever been even near sick, so please don’t scold, and I did want to get up and have supper with you girls. It seems to me that I’ve been in bed for weeks.”
“One, only, to be accurate,” his sister corrected. “Malcolm, you sit down in this easy chair at once and let me feel your pulse.”
“Very well, nurse,” the lad smilingly complied. In fact he was glad to sink into the big comfortable chair, which was drawn close to the hearth. He wasn’t as strong as he had expected to be. Virginia brought a knitted blanket to put over his knees while Margaret put sofa pillows back and around him.
“If I’m treated this way,” he beamed, “I’m not at all sure that I’ll want to get well.”
“Let’s have our supper in here by the fire,” Virginia suggested.
“Oh yes, let’s,” Megsy seconded. “Now, what ought our patient to eat? Bring me a pencil and paper and I’ll write my order.” There was again that merry twinkle in the eyes that were often so serious.