Poor Lucy was frightened and pleased by turns when they told her. She had long before given up hope of ever being able to walk like other girls, and had resigned herself to her fate. Now that there seemed to be a ray of hope she hardly dared indulge in the pleasant thoughts that came to her.
“Oh, if I ever could walk right again!” she exclaimed, and her eyes filled with tears.
“Oh, Dr. Carrolton can cure you,” said Larry with confidence in his tone. “I’ve read all about the cases in the papers, and most of them are lots worse than yours is.”
“Oh, if I could only walk again, like other girls, and run and play, and—and go to work,” sighed Lucy, “I would be the happiest girl in all the world.”
“You will,” said Larry, and he prayed that what he hoped would come to pass.
That week was full of excitement. In the first place, all unexpectedly, a trained nurse came to the house one day, and said she had been sent by Dr. Carrolton to prepare Lucy for the operation.
“Will I have to go to the hospital?” asked Lucy, with fright in her tone.
“No, dear,” said the nurse. “Dr. Carrolton has decided that you will be better off at home. I am going to get you ready.”
“Will you—will you stay with me when—when he operates?” asked the girl in a pleading tone.
“Of course I will, dearest,” said the kind-hearted nurse, putting her arms around the girl. “Your mother will be here too, and we will take good care of you, never fear.”