There was something chugging inquiringly out there. And it was--it
was, indeed, John's little doctor-car. And it held John, and it was
slowing up. As these facts, one by one, became apparent to Joy and
Angela in their excursions above the hedge, there was great
happiness in the garden.
"I knew he'd come!--He said he'd come!" announced Philip gleefully,
pushing like mad. "He said he would! He's been here every day since
they went. I asked him yesterday"--these sentences were interspersed
with the pantings necessary to pushing a swingful of ladies--"I
asked him whyn't he stay for dinner, and he said--he said he wanted
to go home an' have luncheon wiv Joy. So I s'pose he'll stay today,
long's you're here."
In Joy's naughty mind a Great Idea sprang to birth. Whyn't he stay,
indeed? He didn't know about Gail's coming to brighten his fireside,
and there wasn't any reason why he should.
"He'll stay if I can make him," she told Philip gaily.
In the back of her head--she should unquestionably have had her
hands slapped--there was a beautiful and complete picture of Gail
being insolently alluring to three empty chairs and a luncheon table
and four unoccupied walls.
"See John!" screamed Angela, trying to clap her hands, and having to
be grabbed hastily so she shouldn't fall out of the swing. "Johnny!
Johnny! Come in!"
John looked up in time to see the swing before it went downward
again. He waved his hand as it came up, and the third time it rose
Joy saw the car still, but no John.
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