Jewel: A Chapter in Her Life Part 53

"I'm going to run in town for a while this morning, mother."

"You are? Well don't get belated. You know that you are to ride with Dr.

Ballard at half past four. Dear me," her brow drawn, "you ought to have that hat. Now I think that I _could_ get on without that jet bolero."

Eloise laughed softly and drew her mother to her. "Have your jet bolero, dear," she answered. "My hat isn't bad."

Eloise went to her room, and closing the door, took from one of her drawers a box. It contained her girlish treasures, the ornaments and jewels her father had given her from time to time. She took out a small diamond ring and pressed it to her lips.

"Dear papa! I love it because you gave it to me, but I can get with it a wonderful thing, a truth which, if we had known it, would have saved you all those torturing hours, would have saved your dear life. I know how gladly you would have me get it now, for you are learning it too; and it will be your gift, dear, _dear_ papa, your gift just the same."

Jewel had to study the lesson with only Anna Belle's a.s.sistance that morning, but she received the third letter from her mother and father.

Their trip was proving a success from the standpoints of both business and pleasure, but their chief longing was to get back to their little girl.

It was very like visiting with them to read it over, and Jewel did so more than once. "I'll show it to cousin Eloise as soon as she comes home," she reflected. Then she dressed Anna Belle to go out.

Running downstairs the child sought and found Mrs. Forbes in the kitchen. The housekeeper no longer questioned her going and coming, although she still considered herself in the light of the child's only disciplinarian, and was vigilant to watch for errors of omission and commission, and quick to correct them.

"Mrs. Forbes, may I have an old kitchen knife?"

"Certainly not. You'll cut yourself."

"I want it to dig up plants."

Mrs. Forbes stared down at her. "Why, you mustn't do any such thing."

"I mean wild flowers for a garden that Anna Belle and I are going to make."

"Oh. I'll see if I can't find you a trowel."

There was one at hand, and as the housekeeper pa.s.sed it to the child she warned her:--

"Be careful you don't make a mistake, now, and get hold of anybody's plants. What did your cousin Eloise go to New York for?"

"I don't know."

"Well I hope it's for her trousseau."

Jewel smiled. "My mother makes those."

"I don't believe she'll ever make one for you, then," returned Mrs.

Forbes, but not ill-naturedly. She laughed, glancing at Sarah, who stood by.

"But I think she will for Anna Belle," returned Jewel brightly, "when she gets older."

The housekeeper and maid both laughed. "Run along," said Mrs. Forbes, "and don't you be late for lunch."

"She's an awful sweet child," said Sarah half reproachfully. "Just the spirit of sunshine."

"Oh well, they'd turn her head here if it wasn't for me," answered the other complacently.

Jewel was not late to lunch, but eating it tete-a-tete with aunt Madge was not to her taste.

Mrs. Evringham utilized the opportunity to admonish her, and Mrs. Forbes for once sympathized with the widow's sentiments.

Aunt Madge took off her eyegla.s.ses in a way she had when she wished to be particularly impressive.

"Jewel," she said, "I don't think any one has told you that it is impolite to Dr. Ballard to say anything about Christian Science in his presence."

"Why is it?" asked the child.

"Because he is a learned physician, and has, of course, a great respect for his profession."

"I have a great respect for him," returned the child, "and he knows I wouldn't hurt his feelings."

"The idea!" exclaimed Mrs. Evringham, looking down from a height upon the flaxen head. "As if a little ignorant girl could hurt the feelings of a man like Dr. Ballard!"

Mrs. Forbes also stared at the child, and she winced.

"I do love them, and they do love me," she thought. "I don't remember ever speaking about it before the doctor unless somebody asked me," she said aloud.

"Your cousin Eloise may ask you," returned Mrs. Evringham. "n.o.body else would. She does it in a spirit of mischief, perhaps, but I shall speak to her. She has a pa.s.sing curiosity about your ideas because it is odd and rather amusing to find a child who has such unnatural and precocious fancies, and she tries to draw you out; but it will not last with her.

Neither will it with you, probably. You seem to be a sensible little girl in many ways." Mrs. Evringham made the addition magnanimously. She really was too much at peace with all the world just now to like to be severe.

Outwardly Jewel was silent. Inwardly she was declaring many things which would have surprised her companions.

"Does your cousin Eloise pretend to you that she is becoming seriously interested in your faith?" pursued Mrs. Evringham.

"She will tell you all about it," returned Jewel.

Aunt Madge shrugged her shoulders and laughed a little. Her thoughts reverted to her daughter's trip to the city. She had wondered several times if it had any pleasant connection with her sudden good understanding with Mr. Evringham.

To Jewel's relief her thoughts remained preoccupied during the remainder of the meal; and as soon as the child could leave, she flew to the closet under the stairs, where Anna Belle often went into retreat during the luncheon hour, and from thence back to the garden she was making by the brookside.

When she returned to the house her eyes lighted as she saw two horses before the piazza, and Dr. Ballard standing beside one of them.

"How are you, Jewel?" he asked, as she danced up to him smiling.

Stooping, he lifted her into the side saddle, from whence she beamed upon him.

"Oh, what fun you're going to have!" she cried.

"I'd like to be sure of that," he answered, his gloved hand on the pommel.

"What do you mean?" incredulously. "You don't like that automobile better, do you? They're so--so stubby. I must have a horse, a horse!"

She smoothed and patted her steed lovingly.

"You ought to have--Jewel of the world," he said kindly. "My bad angel!"

he added, looking up quizzically into her eyes, and smiling at the widening wonder that grew in them.

"Your--what?" she asked, and then Eloise came out in her habit.