Jewel: A Chapter in Her Life Part 26

You see, I wouldn't have been taken sick if I hadn't believed in a lie instead of denying it. We have to watch our thoughts every minute, and I tell you, Zeke, sometimes it seems real hard work."

"Should say so," returned 'Zekiel. "The less you think the better, I should suppose, if that's the case. I've got to be going now."

"And you'll send the telegram _surely_, and you won't speak of it to any one?"

"Mum's the word, and I'll send it if it's the last act; but don't put all your eggs in one basket, little kid. I know Dr. Ballard's been here, and now you do everything he said, like a good girl, and between the two of 'em they ought to fix you up. I'd pin more faith to a doctor in the hand than to one in the bush a thousand miles away, if 't was _me_."

Jewel smiled on him from heavy eyes. "Did you ever hear of G.o.d's needing any help?" she asked. "I'll never forget your being so kind to me, never, Zeke; and when error melts away I'm coming out to the stable with grandpa. He said I should. Good-by."

As soon as the plum-colored livery had disappeared Jewel drew herself up, took the water pitcher between her hot little hands, and drank long and deeply. Then with a sigh of satisfaction she turned over in bed and drew Anna Belle close to her.

"Just see, dearie," she murmured, "how we are always taken care of!"

Mrs. Evringham saw Dr. Ballard's buggy drive away and lost no time in discovering who had needed his services.

"It's the child," she announced, returning to Eloise's room.

"Poor little thing," returned the girl, rising.

"Where are you going? Stay right where you are. She has a high fever, and they're not sure yet what it may be. Mrs. Forbes is doing everything that is necessary. Father has waited over two trains. He hasn't gone to the city yet."

At the mention of Mr. Evringham Eloise sank back in her chair.

"Dr. Ballard is coming again toward evening," continued Mrs. Evringham, "and I shall talk with him and find out just the conditions. Mrs.

Forbes is very unsatisfactory, but I can see that she thinks it may be something infectious."

Eloise lifted a suddenly hopeful face. "Then you would wish to leave at once?" she said.

"Not at all. Father would surely hear to reason and send the child to the hospital. They are models of comfort in these days, and it is the only proper place for people to be ill. I shall speak to Dr. Ballard about it to-night."

As soon as Eloise had seen her grandfather drive to the station she eluded her mother, and gathering her white negligee about her, went softly up to Jewel's room and stood at the closed door. All was still.

She opened the door stealthily. With all her care it creaked a little.

Still no sound from within. She looked toward the bed, saw the flushed face of the child and that she was asleep, so she withdrew as quietly.

During the day she inquired of Mrs. Forbes if she could be of any service, but the housekeeper received the suggestion with curt respect, a.s.suring her that Dr. Ballard had said Jewel would sleep a good deal, and should not be disturbed.

Mrs. Evringham overheard the question and welcomed the reply with relief.

Jewel ate the bread and fruit and milk that Mrs. Forbes gave her for her late lunch, and said that she felt better.

"You look so," returned the housekeeper. The child had not once called her upstairs during the morning. She certainly was as little trouble as a sick child could be.

"If 't was anybody else," mused Mrs. Forbes, regarding her, "I should say that she sensed the situation and knew she'd brought it on herself and me, and was trying to make up for it; but n.o.body can tell what she thinks. Her eyes do look more natural. I guess Dr. Ballard's a good one."

"It don't seem to hurt you to swallow now," remarked Mrs. Forbes.

"No'm, it doesn't, she answered.

"Now then, you see how foolish and naughty it was the way you behaved about having the doctor this morning. Look how much better you are already!"

"Yes'm, I love Dr. Ballard."

"You well may. He's done well by you." Mrs. Forbes took the tray. "Now do you feel like going to sleep again? The doctor won't come till about six o'clock. Your fever'll rise toward evening, and that's the time he wants to see you. I shall sleep in the spare room next you to-night."

"Thank you, Mrs. Forbes. You are so kind; but you won't have to,"

replied the child earnestly. "Would you please draw up the curtains and put Anna Belle's clothes on the bed? Perhaps I'll dress her after a while. It doesn't seem fair to make her stay in bed when it wasn't her error."

"I don't think you'd better keep your arms out," returned Mrs. Forbes decidedly. "I'll put up the curtains, but when you come to try to do anything you'll find you are very weak. You can ring the bell when you want to, you know. And don't take your medicine again for an hour after eating. I'd take another nap right away if I was you."

When she had gone out, Jewel shook her head at the doll, whose face was smiling toward her own. "You denied it, didn't you, dearie, the minute she said it," she whispered. "Error is using Mrs. Forbes to hold me under mortal mind laws, but it can't be so, because G.o.d doesn't want it, and I'm not afraid any more."

Jewel put her hand under her pillow and drew out the two slips of paper that bore her mother's messages. These she read through several times.

"Of course there are more, Anna Belle. I shouldn't wonder if there was one in every pocket, but I don't mean to hunt. Divine love will send them to me just when I need them, the way He did these. I'm sorry I can't dress you, dearie, because you've just reflected love all the time, and ought not to be in bed at all; but I must obey, you know, so there won't be discord. I'd love to just hop up and get your clothes, but you'll forgive me for not, I know."

Again Jewel put her hand under her pillow and drew forth her copy of "Science and Health." "I'll read to you a little, dearie." She opened the book to page 393 and read, "Rise in the strength of Spirit to resist all that is unlike G.o.d." Jewel paused and thought for a minute. "You might think, Anna Belle, that that meant rise against Mrs. Forbes, but it doesn't. It means rise against all error, and one error is believing that Mrs. Forbes is cross or afraid." She went on reading for several minutes, pa.s.sing glibly over familiar phrases and sticking at or skipping words which presented difficulties.

While she was thus employed Eloise again stole quietly to her cousin's door, and hearing the soft voice she grew pale. Her mother had exacted a promise from her that she would not enter the room until Dr. Ballard consented, so after a minute's hesitation she fled downstairs and found Mrs. Forbes.

"I think the little girl must be worse! She is talking to herself incessantly."

Mrs. Forbes regarded the pale face coldly. "I guess there's some mistake. She was better when I saw her half an hour ago. I'll go up in a minute."

The minute stretched to five; Jewel had slept scarcely at all the night before, and by the time the housekeeper had laboriously reached her door, her voice had grown fainter, then stopped, and she was sound asleep.

"I wish Mamzell would keep her finger out of this pie," soliloquized Mrs. Forbes as she retraced her steps.

When Mr. Evringham returned from the city, his first question, as Zeke met him, was concerning Jewel.

"Mother says she's slept the most of the day," replied the coachman, his head stiff in his high collar and his eyes looking straight ahead.

"H'm. A good sign does she think, or is it stupor?"

"I couldn't say, sir."

Reaching the house, a long pasteboard box in his hands, Mr. Evringham found that his grandchild was still asleep.

"I fear the worst, Mrs. Forbes," he said with nervous curtness. "When a stupor attacks children it is a very bad sign I am told. I'll just ring up Ballard."

He did so, but the doctor had gone out and was intending to call at the park before he returned.

"I really think it is all right, Mr. Evringham," said Mrs. Forbes, distressed by her employer's uneasiness. "Dr. Ballard expected she'd sleep a great deal. He told me not to disturb her."

"Oh, very well then, perhaps it is not to be regretted. Kindly put those roses in the deep vase, Mrs. Forbes."

"Yes, sir." She took up the box. "Besides, Mr. Evringham, if she does get worse, you know the hospital here is one of the very best, and you"--

Mr. Evringham wheeled and frowned upon the speaker fiercely. "Hospital!"

he e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed. "An extraordinary suggestion, Mrs. Forbes! Most extraordinary! My granddaughter remains in my house."