18 Darrell and Sally
DARRELL went to the San. upstairs. She had a little note with her for Matron from Miss Grayling.
'Please allow Darrell to see Sally for a few minutes before her mother comes.'
Matron, surprised and not very pleased, opened the door to let Darrell in. Darrell tiptoed in. It was apleasant room, with three white beds in it, and a lovely view from the big windows. Everything wascreamy white and spot—lessly clean. In the end bed lay Sally, white but bright-eyed.
'Hallo, Sally,' said Darrell. 'I've been so worried about you. Are you better? Did my father make youbetter?'
'Yes. I do like him. He was so kind,' said Sally. 'I did feel so awful all Saturday, Darrell. But Icouldn't tell anyone, could I? 1 couldn't spoil the day.'
'I think you're very brave,' said Darrell. i say—guess who's here to see you?'
'Not my mother?' said Sally, her eyes shining. Darrell nodded. 'Yes. And your father too. And do youknow, Sally, your mother has left behind your little baby sister, so that she could come more quicklyto see you? Fancy that! She must think an awful lot of you, because usually mothers can't bear toleave babies when they're small.'
Sally seemed to have forgotten that she had told Darrell she had no sister. She reached out forDarrell's hand. 'Hasn't she brought Baby?' she whispered. 'Did she leave her behind? Really andtruly?'
'Yes, poor little thing,' said Darrell. 'She must be feeling lonely! I've got a little sister, too. It's lovelyto have a sister.
Mine looks up to me no end and thinks I'm wonderful. I expect yours will, too."Sally's ideas of sisters underwent a sudden change. Things seemed suddenly to fall into their properplaces. She smiled gratefully at Darrell. 'You'll come and see me when you can, won't you?' she said.
'And don't say anything about— about—all my silliness, will you? To the others, I mean.'
'Of course not. It wasn't silliness. It was just a mistake on your part,' said Darrell. 'Why, anyone couldsee by giving one look at your mother that she's a proper mother—I mean the kind that would alwayslove you, however many children she had, or whatever you did. I think she's a darling.'
'So do I,' said Sally, with a sigh. 'I'm sorry I was such a beast to you, Darrell.'
'And I can't tell you how sorry 1 am for having shoved you like that when you had such a pain inyour tummy,' said Darrell.
'Did you shove me?' said Sally. 'I've forgotten. Look, what's Matron saying?'
Matron was beckoning¹ for Darrell to come away. Mr. and Mrs. Hope were outside the door. Darrellsaid a hurried good-bye and tiptoed out. Mr. and Mrs. Hope went in, and Darrell heard Sally's lowcry of joy as she saw her mother.
Darrell skipped happily down the stairs and through the hall into the Court. She ran to the building inwhich her own classroom was. The bell was just going for the ending of a lesson.

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