“Oh, yes, indeed, sir! just as glad as we can be; as I am sure dear mamma must be.”
The doctor drove on, sighing to himself, “Poor little orphans! I wonder what is to become of them. If I were only a rich man instead of a poor one with a family of my own to support—ah, well! I hope there are relatives somewhere who will see that they are clothed, fed, and educated.”
CHAPTER II.
“Oh, papa is better, dear, dear papa!” cried Ethel, jumping and dancing in delight.
“Oh, I’m so glad! I’m so glad!” cried Blanche and Harry in chorus.
“I so blad! I so blad!” echoed Nannette. “But I don’t want to doe home, Ethel; I’se tired.”
“Then we’ll go and sit down a while under the trees by the little brook over yonder,” returned Ethel in soothing tones. “You will like that, Blanche and Harry, won’t you?”
A ready assent was given, and all three turned aside and spent an hour or more in the pleasant spot, rolling on the grass, picking flowers, throwing them into the water, and watching them sail away out of sight.
At length Nannette began fretting. “I so tired, so s’eepy. Me wants to doe home see papa and mamma.”
“So you shall, Nan. I want to see them, too,” returned Ethel, rising and taking her little sister’s hand as she spoke. “Come, Blanche and Harry.”