“If we only had more time,” said Alice, “we might get up a fair.”
“Why not furnish lemonade and cake,” said Mrs. Grey, “then invite all our friends in the place to come over. We can provide amusements for them. You have a good many out-of-door games, tennis, croquet, archery; get them all out and let everybody use them, but have it understood that each person must spend something in lemonade and cake. You might have a series of afternoons like that, and in that way you could aid a great deal, I am sure.”
“Oh, mamma,” exclaimed Alice, “that is just the thing. I must fly back and tell Susy.”
“Very well,” said Mrs. Grey. “You had better stop at Dr. Pool’s and ask him to go over and see the poor woman. And tell him I should be very glad if he could come here soon afterwards, and let me know what he thinks of her case.”
message to Susy, to come to her house as soon as possible, “as she had something _very_ particular to say,” ran in the opposite direction to Dr. Pool’s house.
Dr. Pool lived in a very pretty house not far from Mr. Grey’s, although it was quite a distance back from the ocean. There were some beautiful old trees growing near the house, and behind it there was a small pond of freshwater. As Alice drew near the house she saw Patrick just driving the doctor’s horses down for a drink.
“Good!” exclaimed Alice. “There are the horses, that means that Dr. Pool is at home.”
So Alice ran to the door, and rang the bell. It was answered by Nettie Pool, the doctor’s oldest daughter.
Netty was a lovely girl, and was a great favorite with every one. When Alice saw her she said:
“Oh, Netty, I have something very particular to tell you, but first I must attend to business.”
“That sounds very solemn,” said Netty, laughing; “but do come inside while you tell me what that wonderful business is.”
“My business is with your father,” said Alice; “is he at home?”
Netty said he was in his office, so Alice went in and delivered the message from her mother. She told him exactly where the woman lived, and about all the trouble they had had.
“I am going over in that direction,” said the doctor, “in about two hours, and I will then call and see her, and let your mother know her condition.”
“That is beautiful,” said Alice. “Now I can go back and talk to Netty.”