CHAPTER XVII
JEWEL'S CORRESPONDENCE
While Jewel still stood turning over in her mind what she had heard,charming strains of music began coming up through the hall. CousinEloise had gone to the piano.
"I almost which I hadn't made her tell me," thought the child, "for howcan I help grandpa not to be sorry they are here? Wouldn't I be sorryto have aunt Madge come and live with me when I never asked her to?"She stood for some minutes wrestling with the problem, but suddenly herexpression changed. "I was forgetting!" she exclaimed. "I mustn't getsorry too. God is All. Mortal mind can't do anything about it." Sheclosed her eyes, and pressing her hand to her lips, stood for a minutein mute realization; then with a smile of relief, she took up AnnaBelle.
"Let's go down, dearie, and hear the music," she said light heartedly.
When the summons to luncheon sounded and Mrs. Evringham entered theparlor, she found the child curled up in a big chair, her doll in herlap, listening absorbedly to the last strains of a Chopin Ballade.
"Do you like music, Julia?" she asked patronizingly, as her daughterfinished and turned about.
"The child's name is Jewel," said Eloise.
"Yes, aunt Madge, I love it," replied the little girl; "and I didn'tknow people could play the piano the way cousin Eloise does."
Mrs. Evringham smiled. "I suppose you've not heard much good music."
"Yes'm, I've heard our organist in church."
"And Jewel can make good music herself," said Eloise. "She can sing likea little lark. I've been up in her room this morning."
Mrs. Evringham welcomed the look on her daughter's face as she made thestatement. "Thank fortune Eloise has played herself into good humor,"she thought.
"Indeed? I must hear her sing some time. You're playing unusually wellthis morning, my dear. I wish Dr. Ballard could have heard you. Come toluncheon."
The three repaired to the dining-room, where Mrs. Forbes's glanceimmediately noted the presence of Anna Belle. She took her from Jewel'sarms and placed her on a remote corner of the sideboard, in the middleof which glowed the American Beauty roses.
Mrs. Evringham approached them with solicitude.
"They're looking finely, Mrs. Forbes," she said suavely. "You surelyunderstand the care of roses." She lifted the silver scissors that hungfrom her chatelaine and succeeded in severing one of the long stems.
"Here, little girl," she added, advancing to Eloise, "you need this inyour white gown to cheer us up this rainy day."
The girl shrank and opened her lips to decline, but restrained herselfand submitted to have the flower pinned amid her laces.
Jewel gazed at her in open admiration. The glowing color lent awonderful touch to the girl's beauty. Mrs. Evringham laughed low at thefascinated look in the plain little face, and luncheon began.
To Jewel it differed much from the ones that had preceded it. Mrs.Forbes might hover like a large black cloud, aunt Madge might railat the weather which cut her off from her afternoon drive, but themorning's experience seemed to have put the child into new relationswith all, and Eloise often gave her a friendly glance or smile as themeal progressed.
It was destined to a surprising interruption. In the midst of thediscussion of lamb chops and Saratoga chips the door opened, and inwalked Dr. Ballard. The shoulders of his becoming raincoat were spangledwith drops, his hat was in his hand, a deprecatory smile brightened hisface.
"Forgive me, won't you?" he said as he advanced to Mrs. Evringham andclasped the outstretched hand which eagerly welcomed him. "It was my oneleisure half hour to-day."
He brought the freshness of the spring air with him, and he went onaround the table shaking hands with the others, and finally drew up achair beside Jewel.
"No, I can't eat anything," he declared in response to the urging ofMrs. Evringham and the housekeeper. "Can't stay long enough for that."
His eyes fastened on the graceful girl opposite him, who was tryingto offset her blushes by a direct and nonchalant gaze. The rose on herbreast seemed to be scorching her cheeks. She knew that her mother wasexulting in the lucky inspiration which had made her set it there.
"How good of you to come and cheer us!" exclaimed Mrs. Evringham. "Dotake off your coat and stay for a cosy hour. We will have some music."
"Don't tempt me. I have an office hour awaiting me. I came principallyto see this little girl."
Jewel had leaned back in her chair and was watching his bright faceexpectantly.
"I'm glad of it," rejoined Mrs. Evringham devoutly. "I distrust thesesudden recoveries, Dr. Ballard. Do make very sure that she hasn't one ofthose lingering, treacherous fevers. I've heard of such things."
Dr. Ballard's eyes laughed into those of his little neighbor. "Shedoesn't look the part," he returned.
Jewel gave a glance around the table. "Will you excuse me?" she saidpolitely, then she reached up to the doctor's ear.
"Shall I go and get my money?" she whispered.
He shook his head. "No," he replied in a low tone. "I came to thank youvery much for your note, and to tell you that you don't owe me anything.I'm not usually a 'no cure, no pay' doctor. I take the money anyway, butthis time I'm going to make an exception."
"Why?" asked Jewel, speaking aloud as long as he did.
"Well, you see, you didn't take the medicine. That makes a difference.Most people take it."
"Ye--es," rejoined Jewel rather doubtfully. She was not sure of thislogic.
"So now we're perfectly square," went on the doctor, "but don't you fallill again." He shook his head at her. "I want us to remain friends."
"We'd always be friends, wouldn't we?" returned Jewel, smiling into hislaughing eyes.
"When is our golf coming off, Miss Eloise?" he asked, looking across thetable again.
"When the weather permits," she responded graciously.
"I guess that's going to be all right," commented Mrs. Forbes mentally."She's as pretty as a painting with that rose on, and her mother looksas contented as a cat with her paw on a mouse. She don't mean to playwith that mouse, either. She won't run any risks. She'll take it rightin. You're pretty near done for, my young feller, and your eyes lookwilling, I must say."
The spring rain proved to be a protracted storm. Mr. Evringham made hishours long in the city. Eloise came up to Jewel's room each morningand read the lesson with her, always reading on to herself after it wasfinished. She made the child tell her of the circumstances of her recentillness and cure, and listened to Jewel's affectionate comments on Dr.Ballard's kindness with an inscrutable expression which did not satisfythe child.
"You love him, don't you?" asked the little girl.
Eloise gave a slight smile. "If everything that isn't love is hate, Isuppose I ought to," she returned.
"Yes, indeed," agreed Jewel; "and he has been so kind to you I don't seehow you can help it."
The girl sighed. "Don't grow up, Jewel," she said. "It makes lots oftrouble."
On the second one of her visits to the child's room she put her handon the flaxen head. "I'd like to fix your hair," she said. "Mrs. Forbesdoesn't part it nicely."
"I do it myself," returned Jewel; "but I'd be glad to have you."
So Eloise washed the thick flaxen locks and dried them. Then she partedand brushed the hair, and when it was finally tied, Jewel regarded thereflection of her smooth head with satisfaction.
"It looks just the way mother makes it," she said. "I'm going to writeto mother and father to-night, and I'm going to tell them how kind youare to me."
That evening, in Mr. Evringham's library, Jewel wrote the letter.
Her grandfather, after making some extremely uncomplimentary commentsupon the weather, had lowered his green-shaded electric light andestablished himself beneath it with his book.
He looked across at the child, who was situated as before at the table,her crossed feet, in their spring-heeled shoes, dangling beneath.
"May I smoke, Jewel?" he asked, as he took a cigar from the case. Heasked the
question humorously, but the reply was serious.
"Oh yes, grandpa, of course; this is your room; but you know nobodylikes tobacco naturally except a worm."
Mr. Evringham's deep-set eyes widened. "Is it possible? Well, we're allworms."
Jewel smiled fondly at him, her head a little on one side, in itscharacteristic attitude.
"You're such a joker," she returned.
"If you really dislike smoke," said the broker after a minute, "perhapsyou'd better take your letter up to your room."
"I don't mind it," she returned. "Father used to smoke. It's only alittle while since it gave him up."
"You mean since he gave it up."
"No. When people study Christian Science, the error habits that theyhave just go away."
"Indeed? I'm glad you warned me." Mr. Evringham blew a delicate ring ofsmoke toward the table, but Jewel had begun to think of her parents, andher pencil was moving. Her grandfather noted the trim appearance of thebowed head.
"I don't know but I was cut out for a man milliner after all," he musedcomplacently. "Those bows have really a very chic appearance."
His book interested him, and he soon became absorbed in its pages. Jeweloccasionally coming to an orthographic problem looked up and waited, buthe did not observe her, so she patiently kept silence and resumed herwork. At last the letter was finished.
She looked again at her grandfather, and opened her cramped little handwith relief. The back of her neck was tired with her bending posture.She leaned back in the heavy chair to rest it while she waited. Theeyelids, grown heavy with her labors, wavered and winked. The raindripped down the panes, as if it had fallen into a monotonous habit. Thesound was soothing. Jewel fell asleep.
When finally Mr. Evringham glanced at her he smiled. "Littlethoroughbred," he mused; "she'd never disturb me." He rose and crossedto the child. There lay the finished letter. He took it up with someanticipation:--
DEAR MOTHER AND FATHER----It is most time to get a leter from you but Iwill not wait to tell you I am happy and well.
Grandpa is the kindest man and he has the most Beautiful horse, her nameis Essecks made. He let me sit on her back and give her Sugar. CosinElloees is the prettiest one of all. She has things that make her sorrybut she is very kind to me. She washed my hare today and she helps meget the lesson. There is a docter here he is lovly. He tried to cure mewhen I had a claim but Mrs. Lewis did. Cosin Elloees reads S. and H whenwe get throo the lesson and I think she will be glad Pretty soon andnot afrade Grandpa doesn't want her and Ant maj. She won't let me tellgrandpa she is kind to me, but I can Explane beter when you come home.
Grandpa's kindness is inside, and he Looks sorry but noboddy cood helploving him. I love you both every minnit and the leters in my pockethelp me so much.
Your dear
JEWEL.
Mr. Evringham had scarcely finished reading this epistle when Jewel'shead slipped on the polished woodwork against which she was leaning andbumped against the side of the chair with a jar which awoke her.
Seeing her grandfather standing near she smiled drowsily. "I fellasleep, didn't I?" she said, and rubbed her eyes; then noting the sheetof paper in Mr. Evringham's hand, memory returned to her. She sat upwith a start.
"Oh, grandpa, you haven't read my letter!" she exclaimed, with anaccent of dismay which brought the blood to the broker's face. He felt aculprit before the shocked blue eyes.
"To--to see if it was spelled right, you know," he said. "You had me doit before."
"Yes, I wanted you to then," returned the child; "but it is error toread people's letters unless they ask you to, isn't it?"
"Yes, it's confoundedly bad form, Jewel. I beg your pardon. You didn'tmean me to see those sweet things you said about me, eh?"
"That was no matter. It was cousin Eloise's secret. She trusted me." Thechild's eyes filled with tears.
The broker cleared his throat. "No harm done, I'm sure. No harm done,"he returned brusquely, to cover his discomfiture. For the first time hemade an advance toward his granddaughter. "Come here a minute, Jewel."He took her hand and led her to his chair, and seating himself,lifted her into his lap. The corners of her lips were drawing downinvoluntarily, and as her head fell against his broad shoulder, he tookout his handkerchief and dried her eyes. "I hope you'll forgive me," hesaid. "After this I will always wait for your permission. Now what isthis about cousin Eloise?"
Jewel shook her head, not trusting herself to speak.
"You can't tell me?"
"No."
"Then don't you think perhaps it was a good thing I read your letterafter all, if it is something I ought to know?"
The speaker was not so interested to discover the secrets of hisbeautiful guest as to set himself right with this admirer. He did notrelish falling from his pedestal.
"Do you think perhaps Divine Love made you do it, grandpa?" asked thechild tremulously, with returning hope.
Mr. Evringham was quite certain that it had been curiosity, but he waswilling to accept a higher sounding hypothesis.
"Mother explained to me about God making 'the wrath of man to praiseHim,'" added Jewel after the moment's pause. "If it makes you kind tocousin Eloise, perhaps we can be glad you read it."
"What is the matter with Eloise?" asked Mr. Evringham.
Jewel sat up, fixed him with her eyes, pressed her lips together, andshook her head.
"You won't tell me?"
The head went on firmly shaking.
"Then let me read the letter again."
"No, grandpa," decidedly.
He kept one arm around her as he smoothed his mustache. "Is theresomething you think I ought to do?"
A light seemed to illumine the eyes that the little girl kept fixed onhis, but she did not speak.
"Do you think it discourteous for me to spend my evenings away fromthose two? They don't want me, child."
Still she did not speak. Mr. Evringham was divided between a desire toshake her and the wish to see the familiar fondness return to her face.
"You wrote that Eloise thinks I do not want her and her mother here. Herintelligence is of a higher order than I feared. Well, what can be doneabout it? I've been asking myself that for some time. How would it do tosettle some money upon them and then say good-by?"
"If you did it with love," suggested Jewel.
"It's my impression that they could dispense with the love under thosecircumstances." The broker gave a slight smile.
The child put an impulsive little hand on his shoulder. "No indeed,grandpa. Nobody can do without love. It hurts cousin Eloise because sheisn't your real relation. She doesn't know how kind you are inside." Thechild's lips closed suddenly.
"She fixed your hair very nicely," Mr. Evringham viewed the flaxen headcritically. "That's one thing in her favor."
"She's full of things in her favor," returned Jewel warmly. "Error'susing you, grandpa, not to love her. If we don't love people we can't besure anything we do to them is right."
Mr. Evringham raised one hand and scratched his head slowly, regardingJewel with what she felt was intended to be a humorous air.
"Couldn't you give me an easier one?" he asked.
"Oh grandpa," the flaxen head nestled against his breast and the childsighed. "I wish everybody knew how kind you are," and the broker pattedher shoulder and enjoyed the clinging pressure of her cheek, for itassured him that again he stood firmly on the pedestal.
Jewel: A Chapter in Her Life Page 20
