“No, no.  You mustn’t.  Think of the lights crossing the ferry.  You’ll lose a lot if you’re asleep.  They’re fine to see.  We can’t carry you and the luggage, too.  Brace up, now—­Come, come!  I shouldn’t think you were any older than Anna Belle.”

Jewel laughed sleepily, and the broker held her hand in his while he pushed her upright.  Mr. and Mrs. Evringham looked on, the latter marveling at the child’s nonchalance.

Now, for the first time, the host became talkative.

“How many days have you to give us, Harry?” he asked.

“A couple, perhaps,” replied the young man.

“Two days, father!” exclaimed Jewel, in dismay, wide awake in an instant.

“Oh, that’s a stingy visit,” remarked Mr. Evringham.

“Not half long enough,” added Jewel.  “There’s so much for you to see.”

“Oh, we can see a lot in two days,” returned Harry.  “Think of the little girls in Chicago, Jewel.  They won’t forgive me if I don’t bring you home pretty soon.”  He leaned forward and took his child’s free hand.  “How do you suppose father has got along without his little girl all these weeks, eh, baby?”

“It is a long time since you went away,” she returned, “but I was right in your room every night, and daytimes I played in your ravine.  Bel-Air Park is the beautifulest place in the whole world.  Two days isn’t any time to stay there, father.”

“H’m, I’m glad you’ve been so happy.”  Sincere feeling vibrated in the speaker’s voice.  “We don’t know how to thank your grandpa, do we?”

A street lamp showed Jewel, as she turned and smiled up into the impassive face Mr. Evringham turned upon her.

“You can safely leave that to her,” said the broker briefly, but he did not remove his eyes from the upturned ones.

“It is beyond me,” thought Mrs. Evringham; “but love is a miracle-worker.”

The glowing lights of the ferry passed, Jewel did go to sleep in the train.  Her father, unaware that he was trespassing, took her in his arms, and, tired out with all the excitement of the day and the lateness of the hour, the child instantly became unconscious; but by the time they reached home, the bustle of arrival and her interest in showing her parents about, aided her in waking to the situation.

Mrs. Forbes stood ready to welcome the party.  Ten years had passed since Harry Evringham had stood in the home of his boyhood, and the housekeeper thought she perceived that he was moved by a contrite memory; but he spoke with bluff heartiness as he shook hands with her; and Mrs. Forbes looked with eager curiosity into the sweet face of Mrs. Evringham, as the latter greeted her and said something grateful concerning the housekeeper’s kindness to Jewel.

“It’s very little you have to thank me for, ma’am,” replied Mrs. Forbes, charmed at once by the soft gaze of the dark eyes.

The little cavalcade moved upstairs to the handsome rooms so lately vacated.  They were brilliant with light and fragrant with roses.