She turned and made her way toward the door. As she laid her hand upon the knob and was about to turn it, a voice called:
The girl turned. Her father was sitting up.
“Mabel!” he called again. Gladly the girl ran to him and was at once clasped in his arms.
“You know very well,” was the reply, “that, after such a long absence, your very presence was bound to awaken me. I was asleep, but I must have felt that you had returned.”
“Now tell me all about yourself,” she said. “How long have you been sick?”
“Why didn’t you write and tell me about it?”
“The idea! I would have come home at once to care for you.”
“What does the doctor say is the matter?”
“Well, he has not diagnosed the case satisfactorily, but he says I have some sort of lung trouble.”
“Yes,” interrupted her father. “I am afraid that is what it is. He says that I must go away from here at once.”
For a moment Mabel was too stunned to speak. She sat down upon the edge of the bed again.
“Run away now,” said her father. “I’ll try and sleep some more.”
She kissed her father gently, and made her way from the room.
“Why didn’t you tell me Father was so very sick?” she demanded.
“Pshaw!” he replied. “I don’t think it amounts to anything.”
“You know what the doctor believes is the matter with him?”
At this moment Mabel heard Shirley calling. Accompanied by Mr. Willing, she made her way around the house, where her friend stood awaiting her.
“Let’s go and look at the horses, Mabel,” said Shirley.
In spite of a certain sadness caused by her father’s condition, Mabel agreed, and the two girls made their way to the large stable a quarter of a mile from the farmhouse.
Shirley flung open the door and dashed inside.
“We’ll call on Gabriel first,” she called back over her shoulder.
Straight to the stall of the young animal of splendid pedigree Shirley led the way. It had been months since she had last seen this horse, but the noble creature recognized her footsteps and whinnied in delight at her approach.
Unmindful of the possibility that the horse might step upon her, Shirley ran into the stall and, reaching up, threw both arms around his glossy black neck. Gabriel trembled with happiness, and then thrust his nose into her hand.
“See,” laughed Shirley, “he wants his lump of sugar. Did you think I had forgotten you?” she asked.