"
Betty eyed papa; I think she wasn't sure whether he was in sarcasm or
earnest. "Oh," she said, "we did think it would be nice to have enough
money to send Fee to college, but we don't want it any more,--at least,
not if it's to come by your being ill--or--or--oh, papa, dear, we're all
so _very_ glad and thankful that you are going to get well." She took
his hand up carefully and kissed it.
"I think that now I am glad, too, Betty," said papa; "much more so than
I ever expected to be."
"And you won't work so hard again, will you?" asked Betty, anxiously.
"You see, papa, I'm to get you to promise that; that's what I've come
for. We talked the matter over last evening, and Phil would have come to
speak to you about it, but he said you looked so wretchedly--and so you
do--that just to look at you made him break down, and he was afraid
he'd get rattled and make an a--a mess of it. Then Felix, he couldn't
come, because, well, because--I guess he felt badly, too, about your
being ill. So I thought _I'd_ better come down and have a talk with you,
though I must say I was afraid I might do something awkward,--I'm so
_stupid_ in a sick-room; but so far all's right, isn't it? The boys
don't know I've come,--I thought I'd surprise them; and so I will, with
the good news: you'll promise, won't you, papa?"
"Yes," papa said, "I promise.
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