John Hewitt's patients had always told him that just his coming in
made them better, and he had simply accepted the faculty as useful
in his work. But he had never thought that his personality could
affect a perfectly well person. At Joy's tribute, unconsciously
given, his pulse quickened a little. Had he really had this much
power for happiness over the child?...
"Almost right away they brought me to this lovely place," she went
on happily, "and almost right after that I met the Harringtons. It's
all seemed to me because of your wishing ring."
"What wishing ring?" he asked, smiling indulgently at her, as one
does at a child's fancies.
"Don't you remember?" she asked a little forlornly. "Well--you have
such lots of things to remember! You said, 'Just keep on believing
things will come right, don't lose heart, and they will.' I said,
'Like a wishing ring?' and you said, 'Yes.' I've felt as if I wore
one--played I did, I suppose you'd say. I--I suppose I really am not
being grown-up very well, after all.... Well, after I knew Phyllis
the best thing of all happened. She asked me to come stay with her,
and have roses and a moon, and children all day long. But
Grandfather always said I couldn't go under any circumstances but
being engaged.... And I was so wild to go--it just slipped
out--truly it did! And then--the gods overtook me!"
She clasped her hands in her lap, and looked up at him--she had sunk
to the ground when he did, and was also sitting on a leaf-heap.
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