d be done for David, and how you've all insisted
that when Doctor Wendell should decide he was strong enough for the
operation on the hip-joint we must have it. Well, he says a great
English surgeon, Sir Edmund Barrister, will be here for just two days.
He comes to see the little Woodbridge girl, and to operate on her if he
thinks it best. And Doctor Wendell urges upon me that--it's my chance."

She had spoken quietly, but her face paled a little as she ended. Her
youngest brother-in-law, Stuart, the cadet, himself but lately out of
hospital, was first to speak.

"When does he come?"

"To-morrow."

"Great guns! The little chap's close up to it! Does he know?"

"Oh, no! I wouldn't tell him till it was all arranged. Indeed, I wasn't
sure whether----"

"You'd better tell him at all? Oh, yes, you will, Helen; the major
mustn't stand up to be fired at blindfold." This was from Captain
Stephen, the only one of the four now in active service.

"You all think it's best to have it done?"

"Why, it's as Wendell says: now's the chance to have the best man in
that line. You can rest assured the Woodbridges would never stop at
anything short of the finest. Besides, the Englishman's reputation is
international. Of course it must be done." This was Stuart again. The
cadet lieutenant had already acquired the tone of command--he was an
excellent cadet lieutenant.

But Mrs. Thorndyke looked past Stuart at her Uncle Chester, Colonel
Thorndyke, Civil War veteran. It was upon his opinion that she most
relied. He nodded at her.

"He's right, Nell," he said. "It's our chance. The boy seems to me in as
good condition for it as he'll ever be." He spoke very gently, for to
his mind, as to them all, rose the vision of a delicate little face and
figure, frail with the frailty of the child who has been for six years a
cripple.

So it was decided, with few words, that the great surgeon should see
David upon the morrow, to operate upon him at once if he thought wise,
as the local surgeon, Doctor Wendell, was confident he would. Then arose
another question: Who should tell David?

"Somehow I think," said Mrs. Thorndyke, looking from one to another of
the four who surrounded her, "it would be easier for him from one of
you. He thinks so much of your being soldiers. You know he's always
playing he's a soldier, and if--if one of you could put it to him--in a
sort of military way----"

She stopped, for this time her lips were really tremb