And so they came back from the picnic at Flatrock.

HOME AGAIN

“Would you speak to her, doctor?” asked Mrs. Merrill anxiously.

It was eight o’clock the next morning.  They had reached home about an hour after they left Flatrock and fortunately had found Dr. Smith at home.  He came at once in answer to their telephone call and was there even before they had Mary Jane undressed and put to bed.  He examined her carefully and could find no broken bones and no injury, but still Mary Jane slept on, breathing, but so quietly and unnaturally that she didn’t seem like herself.  Her mother and father had stayed by her all the night long; Grandmother, Grandfather and Alice had with difficulty been sent to bed after midnight and Dr. Smith had stayed most of the time.

But when she still didn’t stir the next morning Mrs. Merrill grew more and more anxious.

“I don’t know,” said the doctor doubtfully; “we might try.  You speak to her; your voice would be the best.”

Mrs. Merrill bent low over her little girl and whispered, “Mary Jane!  Mary Jane!  Mother’s here!”

No answer, but Mrs. Merrill thought she saw a quiver on the little girl’s face, so she tried again.

“Mary Jane!  Mary Jane!  Mother’s here!” she repeated.

“I know,” whispered the little girl; “you com’d to-day,” and she opened her big blue eyes and looked at her mother.

Mrs. Merrill kissed her rapturously and held her close, and Mary Jane raised her arm enough to pat her mother’s shoulder.  Then she looked around the room in surprise.  “Where’s the moon?” she asked.

“The moon?” said Mrs. Merrill, and the laugh she tried to give with her answer sounded very near tears.  “The moon went to sleep a long time ago.”

“And where’s the picnic?” continued Mary Jane wonderingly.

“The picnic was over before you were hurt,” said Mrs. Merrill.

Mary Jane stared at her wide eyed for two or three long minutes.  “Don’t talk to her,” whispered Dr. Smith very softly; “let her think it out herself.”

So Mrs. Merrill just held her little girl close and waited.

“Oh, I know!” exclaimed Mary Jane as suddenly she remembered it all, “it came around the corner so fast—­something big did, and then I’m here!”

“And lucky you are to be here, young lady,” said Dr. Smith, coming around to where she could see him.  “How do you feel?”

“Hungry,” said Mary Jane briefly.

Dr. Smith and Mother laughed so that the others heard them downstairs and came running to hear what the good news could be.

“Is he going to stay for breakfast?” asked Mary Jane as she sat up in bed and pointed to Dr. Smith.  “It is breakfast time, isn’t it, Grandmother?”

“Bless the child!” exclaimed Grandmother from the doorway, “of course it is!  She shall have anything she wants!”