"Oh! no, indeed, I think not," answered Mr. King before Dr. Fisher had time to reply. "She would better wait a day or two longer. Isn't that so, Doctor?" at last appealing to him.
"I don't agree with you," the little doctor drew off his attention from his plate. "You see she has regained her strength remarkably. Now the quicker she is in the family life again, the better for her."
"Oh, good! good!" cried Polly, delighted at the safe withdrawal from the precipice of dangerous argument. "Alexia, now you must help us think up something to celebrate her coming downstairs."
"Not so fast, Polly." The little doctor beamed at her in a way surprising to see after the morning's affair. "Phronsie won't be ready for any celebration before next week. Then I think you may venture."
Alexia pouted and played with her spoon.
"O dear!" cried Dick dolefully, "what's the reason we must wait a whole week, pray tell?"
"Because Father Fisher says so," replied Ben across the table; "that's the principal reason—and it doesn't need any more to support it"—
"Well, I tell you," broke in Polly in her brightest way, "let us think up perfectly splendid things. It's best as it is, for it will take us a week to get ready."
"I shall get her a new doll," declared Mr. King. The rest shouted. "Her others must be quite worn out."
"What could you get her," cried Mr. Whitney, "in the way of a doll? Do tell us, for I really do not see."