“Good sport!” cried the doctor. “That’s the way to talk. You may have to begin with crutches, but I venture to say you won’t end with them. See you to-morrow, Rindy.” “Ellen hasn’t told me a word about her visit,” complained Miss Rindy. “Time enough for that,” called back the doctor. “Don’t you forget what I told you, Ellen,” Miss Rindy charged as her visitors went out the door. Ellen was almost in tears as they drove away. “It is so pitiful to see her laid up like that,” she said. “She has always been so active and capable. Will she ever walk again, Doctor?” “To be sure she will, though not for some time, but she has the perseverance and courage of a dozen women to see her through. She may not be quite so active, but she is young enough to get back a lot of her powers.” “She vows she is not going to stay in that room, that she must go into the free ward,” said Ellen after a silence. “That’s all nonsense! The idea of Rindy Crump going into the free ward. She must stay right where she is. To-morrow I shall tell her that she can’t be moved because it will only retard her recovery, that there is no room in the free ward, anything at all to keep her satisfied.” “But she’ll not be satisfied. She has a horror of debt, and will worry over the expense.” “She mustn’t worry. What about those rich relatives of hers? Can’t they come to the fore?” “She’d rather die than appeal to them.” “What about her brother? It surely is time he was doing something for her, after all she has done for him.” “She never hears from him. I believe he is in Seattle and doing well.” “Humph! Somebody ought to let him know the state of affairs and at least give him a chance to wipe out some of his obligations. I notice that most persons are mighty eager to accept help, but are ready to give aid to anybody except those who came to their assistance. It is a queer twist in human nature.” Ellen thought over this statement and immediately took it to heart, determining that she would never be one of that class. She spoke her thought openly. “I hope the day will come when I can show Cousin Rindy how much I appreciate all she has done for me. I wish I could do it now.” “Don’t you worry about the present. We’ll fix it up somehow. Rindy has too many good friends in this town to let her suffer.” “O dear! But she couldn’t stand being an object of charity.” “She needn’t be. I suppose it would be allowable to lend her what is required, and let her pay in her own good time.” Ellen was silent, although she knew that nothing would fret her cousin more than the knowledge of a debt hanging over her. They had arrived at the doctor’s by now, and Caro was on the watch for her beloved Ellen. “I am so thrilled,” she exclaimed, “to think I am to have you right here under the same roof with me. Of course I’m awfully sorry for poor Miss Rindy, but at the same time I can’t but be happy that anything has happened to bring you back sooner, and, better still, to bring you to us.”