"A little while?" he answered gaily. "I can stand a lot more of you than that, kiddie.... Come, now, Mother's waiting. Or shall I lift you down from the step? ... I always seem to want to lift you about, somehow, you're so little and light—such a little princess:"
He set his hands about her waist, but she slipped from him, laughing excitedly.
"I believe you think I'm just a doll somebody gave you to play with!" she told him with a certain sweet mockery that was hers sometimes.... "Come, now, Mother's waiting!"
She ran down the hall, evading his grasp, and laughing back at him over her shoulder, to Mrs. Hewitt and safety.
"Come, children, dinner will be cold," said Mrs. Hewitt obliviously.
"Coming, Mother dear!" answered Joy.
CHAPTER TEN
CLARENCE SWOOPS DOWN
It was quite as pleasant to breakfast with John as it had been to dine with him, which had been something Joy had secretly wondered about. When breakfast was over, he told her matter-of-coursely that he was going to take her with him on his morning rounds.
"You'd better take a book," he advised her practically. "If you don't, you'll be bored, because I'll be leaving you outside a good deal while I'm inside seeing patients."