Really , Grandmother Marshall could not have the patience to look at her . She decided that she would not take Joyce driving with her and Chrissie that afternoon , as she had thought of , after all . In the forenoon it was discovered that Denise was much worse , and the doctor was sent for . He came , and shook his head , that being really all he could do under the circumstances . When he went away , he was waylaid at the back door by a small gypsy with big , black , serious eyes and long black hair . `` Is Denise going to die ? '' Little Joyce asked in the blunt , straightforward fashion Grandmother Marshall found so trying . The doctor looked at her from under his shaggy brows and decided that here was one of the people to whom you might as well tell the truth first as last , because they are bound to have it . `` Yes , '' he said . `` Soon ? '' `` Very soon , I 'm afraid . In a few days at most . '' `` Thank you , '' said Little Joyce gravely . She went to her room and did something with the black doll . She did not cry , but if you could have seen her face you would have wished she would cry . After dinner Grandmother Marshall and Chrissie drove away , and Uncle Roderick and Aunt Isabella went away , too . Little Joyce crept up to the kitchen chamber . Denise was lying in an uneasy sleep , with tear stains on her face . Then Little Joyce tiptoed down and sped away to the hotel . She did not know just what she would say or do when she got there , but she thought hard all the way to the end of the shore road .
When she came out XXXXX the shore , a lady was sitting alone on a big rock -- a lady with a dark , beautiful face and wonderful eyes .
In after as by for if of that to under