"Perhaps it's wrong asking it when you were so good, but if you only
will take me for payment," and Maddy's soft brown eyes were lifted to
his face.
"Yes, Maddy, I'll take you for payment," the doctor said, smiling,
half seriously, as his eyes rested fondly upon her.
Even then stupid Maddy did not understand him, but began to calculate
out loud how long it would take to earn the money. She'd heard people
say that the doctor charged a dollar a visit to Honedale, and he'd
been so many, many times, that it would take a great many weeks to pay
him; besides, there was the debt to Mr. Guy. She wanted to help pay
that, but did not see how she could, unless he waited, too. Did the
doctor think he would? It seemed terrible to the doctor that one so
young as Maddy should be harassed with the payment of debts, and he
felt a most intense desire for the right to shield her from all such
care, but he must not speak of it then; he'd rather she should remain
a little longer an artless child, confiding all her troubles to him as
if he had been her brother.
"There's Aikenside," he said, at last, and it was not long before they
passed through the gate, guarded by the great bronze lions, and struck
into the graveled road leading to the house.
Pages:
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121