nly rewarded, for long before the hour when
visiting-time at the hospital began, they had sold out all they had
brought, and were able to take good, patient Rocket to the stable and his
dinner. They had not counted up their takings yet, but Bella felt sure
that there was close on a sovereign in her purse; and they had besides an
order for half a sack of potatoes, a bushel of cooking apples, and a pair
of fowls. They scarcely knew what to do, they were so delighted.

"Oh, Tom, won't father be glad!" Bella kept on saying; "and won't he be
surprised when he hears about Rocket! He'll think we are getting on fine,
and won't he be pleased about it!"

"It'll help to get him better, I reckon," said Tom, with quiet delight.

Tom both felt and acted as though he were ten years older than when he was
in Norton, a week ago. The shock and the responsibility, acting on his
thoughtful, steady nature, had changed him from a boy to a man. Not a sad
or too serious man, yet one who felt that he had to act now, not to play;
to think out what was for the best, and to do it, and not let things
slide, or take their chance, and he took up his responsibilities with a
brave and cheerful spirit. There was no self-pity about Tom; it never
entered his head to think he was ill-used or hard-worked.

"'Tisn't any hardship, ma'am," he said brightly, when Mrs. Adamson
condoled with them on all they had to do, now they were left alone.
"I like work better than play. You feel then that you'm doing something.
I get tired of play. I like a game of cricket or football, but I mean the
other sort of play."

Bella, who remembered only too well the dull, miserable years when Aunt
Emma did not like her to play, and would not let her work, agreed with Tom
heartily. "Yes, I like work better than play too," she said emphatically.
"I think it's fine to have a lot to do. There isn't anything makes you so
miserable as doing nothing."

From two to four were the visitors' hours at the hospital, and long before
that hour had struck Tom and Bella were waiting anxiously for the doors of
the hospital to open. There was quite a little crowd of people besides
themselves, and every one had some little luxury they were taking to the
poor invalids inside. Tom and Bella had fresh eggs and flowers, and, best
of all, the good news of their success that day. They had actually earned
a whole sovereign and threepence!

To poor William Hender this was good news indeed