"But if she is his sister," the little boy reasoned, "why didn't she
kiss him? Janey, she--she always gave me forty kisses."
"Just forty?" Dr. Lavendar inquired, looking at the child over his
spectacles.
David was silent for a moment, then he said, earnestly: "I never
counted. But Janey, she always said 'forty kisses.'" His whole face
quivered. A very large tear gathered, trembled, then rolled over; he
held his hands together under the lap-robe and looked the other way;
then he raised one shoulder and rubbed his cheek against it.
"I guess Janey was a pretty nice sister," Dr. Lavendar said.
David's hands tightened; he looked up speechless, into the kind old
face.
"David," said Dr. Lavendar in a business-like way, "would you mind
driving for me? I want to look over my note-book."
"Driving?" said David. "Oh, _my!_" His cheeks were wet but his eyes
shone. "I don't mind, sir. I'd just as lieves as not!"
CHAPTER V
"So that's the youngster we're going to adopt, is it?" Mr. Pryor
said; then he looked at Helena through his curling brown lashes, with
open amusement. Her eyes were full of tears.
"It has been--so long," she said faintly.
"I've been very busy," he explained.
She nodded and smiled. "Anyhow, you are here now. But, oh, Maggie has
a sore throat. I don't know what we're going to have for dinner. Oh,
how glad I am you're here!" Her face was glowing, but her chin
trembled.
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