“No, indeed,” said Violet, “and the sight of your dear, sweet face, Gracie, could not, I am sure, do anything but good to any one who sees it.”
“Ah, mamma, I fear you are becoming a flatterer,” laughed Grace. “But it must be for father or the doctor to decide my course of conduct on this occasion.”
“You may come, if you will promise not to say more than a dozen unexciting words to my patient,” Harold said in a tone between jest and earnest.
“I promise,” laughed Grace. “It seems I have to begin to obey you now.”
“I think you began a year or two ago,” he returned laughingly. “You have been a very satisfactory patient.”
“I am glad to hear it,” she said. “Father, have I your permission to go with you to take a peep at my little sick brother?”
“Yes, daughter, if you will be careful to follow the doctor’s directions.”
“I will, father, first following in his and your footsteps,” she said, doing so along with Violet as the two gentlemen, having passed into the hall, now began mounting the broad stairway.
They found the young patient lying among his pillows, looking pale and weak. His eyes shone with pleasure at sight of them.