He did not get any further, for Maddy hastily interrupted him, and
while her eyes flashed with pride, exclaimed: "I will not be a charity patient! I say I will not! I'd be a hired
girl before I'd do it!"
It troubled the doctor to see Maddy so disturbed about dollars and
cents--to know that poverty was pressing its iron hand upon her young
heart; and only because she was so young did he refrain from offering
her then and there a resting place from the ills of life in his
sheltering love. But she was not prepared, and he should only defeat
his object by his rashness, so he restrained himself, though he did
pass his arm partly around her waist as he said to her: "I tell you, Maddy, honestly, that when I want that bill liquidated
I'll ask you. I certainly will, and I'll let you pay it, too. Does
that satisfy you?"
Yes, Maddy was satisfied, and after a little the doctor continued: "By the way, Maddy, I have some idea of going to Europe for a few
months, or a year or more. You know it does a physician good to study
awhile in Paris. What do you think of it? Shall I go?"
The doctor had become quite necessary to Maddy's happiness. He it was
to whom she confided all her little troubles, and to lose him would be
a terrible loss, and so she answered that if it would be much better
for him she supposed he ought to go, though she should miss him sadly
and be so lonely without him.
"Would you, Maddy? Are you in earnest? Would you be lonelier for my
being gone?" the doctor asked, eagerly. With her usual truthfulness,
Maddy replied: "Of course I should;" and, when, after the conference
was ended, the doctor stood for a moment talking with Guy, ere bidding
him good-night, he said: "I think I shall not accept your European
proposition. Somebody else must cure Lucy."
The next day, as Guy had proposed, he rode down to Honedale, taking
Maddy with him, and offering so many reasons why she should not be
called home, that the old people began to relent, particularly as they
saw how Maddy's heart was set on the lessons Guy was going to give
her. She might never have a like opportunity, the young man said, and
as a good education would put her fa the way of helping them when they
were older and needed her more, it was their duty to leave her with
them. He knew they objected to her receiving three dollars a week, but
he should pay it just the same, and if they chose they might, with a
part of it, hire a little girl to do the work which Maddy would do
were she at home. All this sounded very feasible, especially as it was
backed up by Maddy's eyes, brimful of tears, and fixed pleadingly upon
her grandfather. The sight of them, more than Guy's arguments,
influenced the old man, who decided that if grandma were willing Maddy
should stay, unless absolutely needed at the cottage. Then the tears
burst forth, and winding her arms around her grandfather's neck, Maddy
sobbed out her thanks, asking if it were selfish and wicked and
naughty in her to prefer learning rather than staying there.