"Father will help; I know he will," cried Frances, eagerly.
"Our father, too," said Basil quietly. "Some day he is coming to Fayre, not too long hence, I hope."
"It is lovely!" cried Prue, her imagination picturing vividly the attractive rôle of Lady Bountiful to forlorn and grateful childish hearts.
"I'll begin telling stories again, at once, to earn money for the support of one little incurable. I could earn enough to support one, if it were a small one, with not too big a hump, or whatever ailed her," said Rob, talking nonsense as usual to hide her deeper feeling. "And, Hessie, I am proud to call you my friend!"
"I will be a specialist on little children's incurable diseases, and I will give my services to the Home!" cried Bruce, sitting erect with tumbled hair and his face glowing with genuine enthusiasm. "I have always been afraid that I might be a failure in my profession because I had income enough to live on without practising, but this will save me."
He followed Dr. Fairbairn up-stairs to have his wounds dressed, and Hester looked from one to the other left behind.
"They were in earnest? They really did approve?" she implored.
"In entire earnest, and they approved profoundly," affirmed Rob. "This may be the birthday of good that shall outlast our day."
Hester caught her breath. "If only I can do something!" she murmured.