“That water!  It’s dripping, dripping right on my head!  Eva, put up your hand, and catch it!”

Standing beside his pillow, Polly held her hand high.

“I’ll catch it all, Uncle David,” she assured him.  “You shan’t feel another drop!”

“That’s a good girl!  You always are a good girl, Eva!  Seems as —­if—­”

The voice trailed off into confused mutterings, and with trembling fingers he began picking at the sheet and working it into tiny rolls.

Very gently Polly took one of the restless hands in both her own, and smoothed it tenderly.

This had a quieting effect, and he lay still for so long that Dr. Dudley drew Polly softly away, letting her rest on his knee, her head against his shoulder.

But in a moment the old call burst out:—­

“Eva!  Eva!  Where are you, Eva?”

Her prompt assurance, “I’m right here, Uncle David!” hushed him at once.  Presently, however, he began again.

“Eva!  Eva!  You love your old uncle, don’t you, Eva?  Just a—­ little—­bit?”

“More than a little bit!  I love you dearly, Uncle David!”

“Don’t go away any more!  Promise, Eva!  Promise me!”

“I’ll stay just as long as you want me Uncle David.  Can’t you go to sleep?  Remember, I’ll be right here all the time!”

Reassured by this, he closed his eyes, and was quiet for a while; yet only to rouse again and repeat the same old cry.

The thunder was now only an occasional rumble in the distance, and the lightning had faded to a glimmer; but the rain still kept on, and as the nurse raised another window the ceaseless patter of the drops seemed to disturb the sick man, for he began his complaint of the dripping water upon his head.

Polly pacified him, as before, and once more he drowsed.

The little girl slept, to, in the Doctor’s arms, until, towards morning the Colonel was resting so calmly that they returned to the hospital.

Miss Lucy clasped Polly with almost a sob.

“If you ever go away again in such a storm,” she declared, “I shall go, too!  I saw the lightning come down—­and—­” her voice broke.

“And we were not harmed in the least,” finished the Doctor cheerily.  “But next time I promise to act upon your higher wisdom, and not venture among such thunderbolts.  Now, hustle into bed, both of you, and don’t dare to wake up till breakfast time!”

The convalescent ward slept late; the nurse and Polly strictly obeyed orders.  Nobody cared, however, and unusual gayety prevailed at the tardy breakfast, to match the bright September morning and the good news of Colonel Gresham.  For word had come up from Dr. Dudley that the Colonel was going to get well.

Of course the children eagerly heard the story of Polly’s midnight trip in the physician’s arms through the fearful storm.  It had to be told over and over again, and the more daring ones wished they had been awake to see it all.