After this, whenever Dr.— was asked to recommend a nurse, he had but one reply: "Get Mrs. Danforth, if you can."
All this time poor Harrison had embraced every opportunity to steal softly up stairs and wait at the door of number five until some one came out from whom he could learn about the patient. Now he often caught a glimpse of his mother as she passed through the kitchen, and one day she told him if he would come up to the door of the sick-room, she would invite him in to see his young favorite.
Ella was seated in a large chair, pillows being placed around her to keep her upright, when he entered. His mother had told him she was very much better, almost well; but when he saw her pale, thin face, resting upon her little hand, in which every vein was clearly visible, he stood motionless with surprise and disappointment.
The little girl gazed earnestly in his face, and then, after waiting a moment for him to speak, Ella said, "Why, Harrison I thought you'd be glad to see me; but you seem real sorry."
"I didn't know you'd been so very sick," faltered the boy. "I'm afraid you never will be well enough to go out on the shed."
Ella laughed right merrily. It was a happy sound for her mother to hear. She had not laughed audibly before since she was ill.
"I'm going to school next week," rejoined Harrison.
"Alfred has gone to school again," she said.
"Has he? Well, I must bid you goodbye."
"Will you come again?"