The doctor came every day, and upon more than one occasion he found his patient—alas for romance—decidedly cross.
"Oh, Doctor, if I might just sit on the porch and see the boys!" pleaded Gay, the second day after the accident.
"Will you promise to keep quiet and not try to do any left-handed acts?"
"Not an act—if you'll only let me go."
"Well, look out for your arm!" said the doctor, warningly, for Gay ran out of the room with a cry of delight, without waiting for further instructions.
No sooner was Gay seated on the porch than visitors sprang up as if by magic from all sides. The truth was, Lyman was watching outside the gate to get the first word from the doctor, and when Gay appeared Lyman notified Will, who told Robert, who told Ned, who in his turn imparted the knowledge to Ethel, who informed Julia, and at length all his friends in Hazelnook were clustered around the invalid.
Then what a hubbub there was! Everybody talked at once. Everybody laughed at once. There was so much rejoicing that at length they became quiet from sheer exhaustion, and the air about was as silent as it is when a noisy machine suddenly ceases its motion.
"I'm cold!" announced Gay, suddenly.
"Then you must go right into the house," said Miss Celia, greatly agitated. "You can find something in there to amuse your friends."