"We're much obliged to yer, Jack, and we'll do the same for you some time; but yer see we couldn't think of takin' Katy out on borrowed money, for she wouldn't have as good a time if she knew it."
Then the boys walked directly to the hospital, arriving there some time before eight o'clock, and for more than an hour were they obliged to wait in the street, suffering greatly from the heat and their fear lest they should disarrange their carefully made toilets.
It seemed as if Katy must have been as impatient for the meeting as they were, for just at nine o'clock she came out of the hospital gates, looking pale and worn, but as happy as she ever was in her life. She had on the new dress, and even though it was not made in the latest fashion, nor of the richest materials, the boys were very much surprised by the improvement in her appearance.
"You look like a reg'lar swell!" exclaimed Johnny, approvingly, and then he turned slowly around in front of her, that she might see and admire him.
"I hain't sure but the dress looks jest as well as if it was red," said Jimmy, too much "dressed up" even to rub his chin, and then he too began to revolve for Katy's benefit. For some moments it was truly a mutual admiration society of three members.
Then after they had sufficiently complimented each other, and after Katy had vainly tried to thank the boys for their kindness, Johnny announced the programme for the day, explaining that the excursion was necessary as a means of showing their thankfulness for the recovery of "their girl."
"We're goin' to be reg'lar folks, ain't we?" cried Katy, when, to her great pleasure, the boys led the way to the nearest elevated railroad station, thus giving her the opportunity of having such a ride as she had long desired.
"I guess you'll think so before we get back," replied Johnny, decidedly; and when he paid thirty cents for the ride, thereby diminishing their funds sadly, he looked at Katy in a satisfied way, happy at being able to give her so much pleasure.
At the steamboat pier they mingled with the crowd that would probably spend more money than they, but yet have less enjoyment, and it was as much as Katy could do to see everything around her, so many times did she look at her dress—new and whole.