"The dev--Ah, to be sure. So we are. Well--a--what did you say? Trolley car? Why?"
"Well, we could all go then, you know," returned Jewel. "Cousin Eloise wants to go, but," the child"s honesty compelled her, "she wouldn"t have to go with us because it is Mr. Bonnell"s last night in Bel-Air, and I heard him ask if he might come for her; but I do so want Zeke to go, grandpa!"
"Well, for the love of"--began the broker slowly.
"Yes, Zeke is getting to understand a good deal about Christian Science.
He has some claims of error that his mother knows about, and they make her sorry, and I"ve been helping him and reading to him out of my books, and I do want him to go to the testimonial meeting so much."
The child looked wistfully up into the dark eyes that rested upon her.
Mr. Evringham had remarked his housekeeper"s change of spirit toward the little girl, had wondered at the increasing and even reckless indulgence of Anna Belle, who from being an exile in the stair closet had now arrived at a degree of consideration and pampering which threatened to turn her head.
"Jewel," he said impressively, "I wish you to understand one thing distinctly. You are not now or at any future time to try to make a Christian Scientist of Ess.e.x Maid."
From wondering sobriety Jewel"s lips broke into a gleeful smile. "I don"t have to," she cried triumphantly. "She is one! Anyway, she has demonstrated everything a horse ought to!"
Mr. Evringham flung his hands over his head despairingly. "Great heavens!" he exclaimed tragically, rushing out to the brougham, Jewel at his heels in peals of laughter.
But they went to church in the trolley car. Eloise reached the same place with Mr. Bonnell, but whether she walked or drove or rode n.o.body ever knew, and it didn"t matter much, for a full moon illumined the night.
Early in the evening a young man entered the hall quietly and took a back seat. It was Zeke.
Mr. Reeves saw Jewel and her grandfather come in, and softly he smote his knee. "She"s done it!" he e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed mentally. He noted the broker"s haughty carriage, the half challenging glances he threw to right and left as he proceeded up the aisle to the position of Jewel"s choice.
Mr. Reeves composed his countenance with some difficulty, and catching the wandering eye, gave his friend a grave bow.
Testimonial meetings differ in point of continued interest. This proved to be a good one. The most interesting narrative of the evening was Nat Bonnell"s. His self possession, fine presence, and good voice made more effective the marvelous story of his mother"s resurrection to strength.
He told it with dignity and directness, and Mr. Evringham was impressed.
"What"s my rheumatism to that, eh, Jewel?" he whispered, as Nat sat down.
"Just nothing, grandpa," replied the child.
"You think the Creator"d consider me worth attending to, eh?"
"G.o.d doesn"t know you have the rheumatism," exclaimed Jewel with soft scorn.
"Doesn"t? Well! I"ve always supposed He thought I needed reminding on account of a number of things, and so touched me up with that. I didn"t blame Him much.
"If He knew it, it would be real, and then it couldn"t be changed,"
returned Jewel earnestly in the ear he bent to her.
The broker sat up and looked down on her large hat and short legs.
"Whew, but I"m a back number!" he mused.
The next testimonial made Jewel"s eyes brighten. It was given by a man who told a story of hopeless intemperance and his family"s want. The unaffected humility and grat.i.tude that sounded in his voice as he described the changed conditions which followed his cure caused the roses to deepen in Jewel"s cheeks. She wondered where Zeke was sitting.
Altogether she was happy over the meeting, and her grandfather"s att.i.tude was as kindly as could have been expected.
Eloise came into her mother"s room that night, beaming.
"I wish you had come with us," she said. "It was wonderful."
Mrs. Evringham turned to her with a lofty air. "I have too much loyalty to friendship to be seen in such a place," she returned.
"Nat said he wouldn"t ask you to come down to bid him good-by, because he expects to come out to spend Sundays for a while."
Mrs. Evringham looked at her daughter. All the girl"s face had lacked of vivacity and happy expression it wore now, making her radiant.
"You could never guess the news I have for you, mother."
Mrs. Evringham"s lips tightened. "Eloise, if you will not marry the fine man who had my entire approval, it will be outrageous for you to marry an ineligible, a young fellow whose goods are all in the show window, who has not proved himself in any way. I refuse to hear your news," she returned impetuously.
The girl laughed. "Do you mean Nat, dear?" she asked, her rosy face coming close. "I"m afraid he"s going to spoil himself by becoming eligible. He has been telling me a lot about the business to-night."
"Ho! Nat Bonnell could always talk."
Eloise"s arms closed around her. "There"s only one source of supply, mother. Nat has found Him. I am finding Him. We shall not want. What do you think I have here for you? Grandfather gave it to me." Eloise put into her mother"s hands a draft for a thousand dollars.
Mr. Evringham appeared to lose sight of the dagger she had been seeing before her for days. "What is this?" she e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed. "A present from father?"
"Not at all. Some unknown man owed it to papa, and his conscience made him pay the debt. It came in grandfather"s evening mail, and he has only just opened it."
Mrs. Evringham examined the paper eagerly.
"How wonderful!" she exclaimed.
"How natural," returned Eloise. "That is the wonderful part of it."
CHAPTER XXVII
A REALIZED HOPE
One afternoon Mr. Evringham did not return from the city at the usual time. Jewel, watching for him, was surprised after a while to see him walking up from the gate.
"Why, what"s happened?" she asked. "Zeke went for you."
"Yes; but he found he had to leave d.i.c.k to be shod."
"Then are you going to saddle Ess.e.x Maid yourself? Oh, can I see you do it, grandpa?" She hopped with antic.i.p.ation.
"I don"t know that I"ll ride just now. It"s an excellent day for walking. It seems rather strange to me, Jewel, that you"ve never shown me the Ravine of Happiness. You talk a good deal about it."
"Oh, would you like to come?" cried the child, flushing. "Good! I have the pond all fixed in Anna Belle"s garden, and the ferns droop over it just like a fairy story."
"Have you put up a sign for the fairies to keep out?"
"No--o," returned Jewel, drawing in her chin and smiling.