"Is she really a lovable child?" repeated Leslie. "She most certainly is," said Douglas. "I could love her dearly. It's plain that Mickey adores her. Why when a boy gives up trips to the country, the chance to pick up good money, in order to stand over, wash, and cook for a little sick girl, what is the answer?" "The one you have given--that he adores her," conceded Leslie. "The next was, 'Is she attractive?'" "Wonderfully!" cried Douglas. "And what she would be in health with flesh to cover her bones and colour on her lips and cheeks is now only dimly foreshadowed." "She must have her chance," said Leslie. "I was thinking of her to-day. I'll go to see her at once and bring her here. I will get the best surgeon in Multiopolis to examine her and a nurse if need be; then Mickey can come out with you." "Would you really, Leslie?" asked Douglas. "But why not?" cried she. "That's one of the things worth while in the world." "I'd love to go halvers with you," proposed Douglas. "Let's do it! When will you go to see her?" "In a few days," said Leslie. "The last one was, 'Could you get any idea of what is the trouble?'" "Very little," said Douglas. "She can sit up and move her hands. He is teaching her to read and write. She had her lesson very creditably copied out on her slate. She practises in his absence on poems Mickey makes." "Poems?" "Doggerel," explained Douglas. "Four lines at a time. Some of it is pathetic, some of it is witty, some of it presages possibilities. He may make a poet. She requires a verse each evening, so he recites it, then writes it out, and she uses it for copy the next day. The finished product is to have a sky-blue cover and be decorated either with an English sparrow, the only bird she has seen, or a cow. She likes milk, and the pictures of cows give her an idea that she can handle them like her doll----" "Oh Douglas!" protested Leslie. "I believe she thinks a whole herd of cows could be kept on her bed, while she finds them quite suitable to decorate Mickey's volume," said Douglas. "Why, hasn't she seen anything at all?" "She has been on the street twice in her life that she knows of," answered Douglas. "It will be kind of you to take her, and cure her if it can be done, but you'll have to consult Mickey. She is his find, so he claims her, belligerently, I might warn you!" "Claims her! _He has her?_" marvelled Leslie. "Surely! In his room! On his bed! Taking care of her himself, and doing a mighty fine job of it! Best she ever had I am quite sure," said Douglas. "But Douglas!" cried Leslie in amazement.