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Silence again while the elephants did amazing things in one ring, with Japanese tumblers in another, with piebald ponies beyond, and things being done on trapezes everywhere. Teddy slipped his hand into Derry's. "It's it's almost like having Daddy," he confided. "I know he's glad I'm here." Derry's big hand closed over the small one. "I'm glad, too, old chap."
But she is littler. And you mustn't spend much money. Mother said I spent too much for my rab-yit. That I ought to save it for Our Men. And you mustn't eat what you yike we've got a card in the window, and there wasn't any bacon for bref-fus." "Breakfast." "Yes. An' we had puffed rice and prunes " Nurse, coming up, was immediately on the job. "You are getting mud on Mr. Derry's spats, Teddy.
She remembered now to have seen them, and to have remarked the house, which was peaked up in several gables, and had quaint brightly-colored iron figures set about the garden with pointed caps like the graybeards in Rip van Winkle, or the dwarf in Rumpelstiltzkin. When Derry's car slid up to Margaret's door, he saw the two children at an upper window. They waved to him as he rang the bell.
Witherspoon and a party of young people sat in a box adjoining Derry's. Ralph was there and Alma Drew, and Alma was more than ever lovely in gold-embroidered tulle. Ralph knew what had happened when he saw Jean dancing with Derry. There was no mistaking the soft raptures of the youthful pair. In the days to come Ralph was to suffer wounds, but none to tear his heart like this.
Margaret Morgan, perhaps better than any other, knew in those days what was in Derry's heart. She knew the things against which he had struggled, and she had rebelled hotly, "Why should he be sacrificed?" she had asked her husband more than once during the three years which had preceded America's entrance into the war. "He wants to be over there driving an ambulance doing his bit.
The red surged up in the Doctor's face. He jerked himself forward in his chair. "You shall not wait. After this you are my son, if you are not your father's." He laid his hand on Derry's shoulder. "I've money enough, God knows. And I shan't need it. It isn't a fortune, but it is enough to make all of us comfortable for the rest of our days and I want Jean to be happy.
Before his eye came the vision of Hilda's attractiveness by his fireside, at his table. And now she would sit by the General's fire, at his table. "She didn't say a word," Derry's young voice went on, "when he told me that I was no longer his son. I can't tell you how I felt about her. I've never felt that way about anyone before.
"He is not a fish," with rising anger, "and as for Jean, she'd marry him if he hadn't a penny, and you know it, Hilda." Hilda considered that for a moment. Then she said, "Is it his money or his father's?" "Belongs to the old man. Derry's mother had nothing but an irreproachable family tree." Hilda's long hands were clasped on the desk, her eyes were upon them.
"Anything the matter?" "Father isn't well. Dr. McKenzie has taken the case. Richards has gone to the front. Bronson will call me if there are any unfavorable developments." Margaret-Mary, curled up like a kitten in the curve of Cousin Derry's arm, was exploring his vest pocket. She found two very small squares of Washington taffy wrapped in wax paper, one for herself and one for Teddy.
There was the opening and shutting of doors, her low orders in the halls, her careful voice at the telephone, and once the sound of her padded steps as she passed Derry's room on her way to her own. The new doctor came and went. Hilda sent, at Derry's request, a bulletin of the patient's condition. The General must be kept from excitement; otherwise there was not reason for alarm.
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