For answer Philip Waldron bowed his head upon the hand he held, and waited.
Soon steps and voices were heard outside.
"Is this the room? A terrible way up! Why didn't you put her a floor lower? Quieter?—oh, well, have your own way!"
The doctor and Mr. Waldron entered. In the half-light of the room the little figure on the bed was dimly visible. Both men paused while the doctor laid a professional hand on the child's pulse.
"She is all right," he remarked reassuringly.
"So you wanted to see me," began Mr. Waldron, looking down at the small head where it lay on the pillow. "How pale she is!" he ejaculated to himself. "I hope they have treated her properly!"
"Quite properly, thank you," replied Sophy, answering his half-whisper. "I wanted you to see my daddy."
Mr. Waldron noticed for the first time the bowed head on the other side of the bed.
"Yes," continued Sophy, following his glance. "This is my daddy, and he wants to help me say 'Thank you.' For Dr. Norman has told me how kind you are, if you are sometimes grumpy."
Philip Waldron slowly raised his head and stood up, facing his father across the bed.