So it was agreed.  Meantime Miss Lucy, at her table, textbook in hand, overheard and wished and planned.  Downstairs, too, where Mrs. Jocelyn sat talking with Dr. Dudley, more planning was going on, and in the physician’s own heart a little private scheme was brewing.  Thus the ward’s birthday came nearer and more near.

The sweet peas were placed on a broad sill outside the window for the night, lest they might take it into their frail little heads to wither before their time.  They showed their appreciation of Miss Lucy’s thoughtfulness by being as sweet and bright as possible, and early in the morning everybody in the ward wore a decoration.

About ten o’clock Dr. Dudley appeared, and Polly and Elsie hurried to pin a posy in his buttonhole.  Elsie had chosen a pink and Polly a blue blossom, and one little girl held them in place while the other pinned them fast, the Doctor sending telegraphic messages over their heads to Miss Lucy.

“Now, let me see,” he began, after he had returned thanks for his sweets; “think I can squeeze in seven or eight of them?” nodding to the nurse.

“They’re none of them very bulky,” she laughed.

“Fell strong enough for an auto ride, Elsie?” he twinkled.

“Me?” gasped the little girl.  “You don’t mean me, do you?”

“If your name is Elsie Meyer, you’re the one,” he replied.

“Oh, my!  O-h, m-y!” she cried.  “Polly!  Polly!  He’s goin’ to take me to ride!” And she whirled Polly round and round in her excited joy.

“Cornelius and Moses,” he counted, “and Elsie and Polly,”—­ his eyes had reached the little girl with a crutch, whose pale face was growing pink and paler by turns,—­“and Leonora and Brida,” he went on; “that makes six.”

“Oh, me too?” squealed Brida delightedly, clutching her chair for support in the trying moment.

Leonora said nothing, only gazed at the Doctor as if she feared he would vanish, together with her promised ride, if she did not keep close watch.

“There are only two more for whom I dare risk the bumpety-bumps,” laughed Dr. Dudley.  “Corinne, I think you can bear them, and perhaps we can wedge in Isabel.”

“Oh, we can hold her!” volunteered Elsie.

“Sure, we can!” echoed Cornelius.

“No, I want to thit in Polly’th lap,” lisped the midget, edging away from the others, and doing her best to climb to Polly’s arms.

Polly clasped the tiny one tight, smiling her promise, to full of joy in her friends’ happiness for any words.

“I’ll give you fifteen minutes to prink up in,” the Doctor told them; and away they scampered, Polly halting by David’s cot long enough to wish he “were going too.”

The eight were downstairs within the specified time, and they whirled off in the big motor car, which seated them all comfortably without crowding anybody.  Very demure they were, passing along the city streets, but in the open country their delight found vent in shouts and squeals and jubilant laughter.  Dr. Dudley chose a route apart from the traveled highways, leading through woods and between blossoming fields.