Polly returned a light refusal, which started a string of remonstrances. A boy laid hold of David; but he slipped the grasp and catching Polly’s arm pulled her down beside him on the bench. “Nice, refined crowd you train with!” he growled before they were well out of hearing. Polly attempted no apology, only drew away with a quiet good-night. Without an answering word he let her go, a slim white figure, across the lawn. CHAPTER V “I WILL TAKE CARE OF PARADISE WARD” On the top floor of the Children’s House of Joy was the most beautiful hospital ward in the whole world. When Mrs. Gresham was completing her plans for the institution Polly Dudley was often called into consultation, and it was decided to give the prettiest ward to those children that were ill with incurable diseases. Mrs. Gresham had ordered many appurtenances which Dr. Dudley called foolish extravagance, but in which she and Polly reveled, anticipating the delight of the little unfortunates for whom they were devised. “What shall we call it when it is done?” Mrs. Gresham had said one day, as she and Polly were overseeing the final touches to the wonderful apartment. “If I have my way,” Polly had declared, “it shan’t have one letter of ‘incurable’ in its name.” “You can have your way,” Mrs. Gresham had asserted. “And you must hit upon something soon, if I’m to get any sleep. Last night I lay awake full three hours muddling my brain over it, and then I couldn’t think of anything half pretty enough.” “Something has just come to me!” Polly had cried; “but maybe you won’t like it. What do you say to ‘Paradise Ward’?” At that Mrs. Gresham’s delicate hands had clapped the softest of applause, and the ward was named.