Racing out to the barn, she appeared to ’Zekiel in the harness room like a small whirlwind.

“Get on your best things, Zeke,” she cried, hopping up and down; “my father and mother are coming.”

“Is this an india rubber girl?” inquired the coachman, pausing to look at her with a smile.  “What train?”

“Three o’clock.  You’re going with me to New York.  Grandpa says so; to his office, and the boat’s coming to-night.  Get ready quick, Zeke, please.  I’m going to wear my silk dress.”

“Hold on, kid,” for she was flying off.  “I’m to go in town with you, am I?  Are you sure?  I don’t want to fix up till I make Solomon look like thirty cents and then find out there’s some misdeal.”

“Grandpa wants you to bring me to his office, that’s what he said,” returned the child earnestly.  “Let’s start real soon!”

Like a sprite she was back at the house and running upstairs, calling for Mrs. Forbes.

The housekeeper appeared at the door of the front room, empty now for two days of Mrs. Evringham’s trunks, and Jewel with flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes told her great news.

Mrs. Forbes was instantly sympathetic.  “Come right upstairs and let me help you get ready.  Dear me, to-night!  I wonder if they’ll want any supper when they get here.”

“I don’t know.  I don’t know!” sang Jewel to a tune of her own improvising, as she skipped ahead.

“I don’t believe they will,” mused Mrs. Forbes.  “Those customs take so much time.  It seems a very queer thing to me, Jewel, Mr. Evringham letting you come in at all.  Why, you’ll very likely not get home till midnight.”

“Won’t it be the most fun!” cried the child, dancing to her closet and getting her checked silk dress.

“I guess your flannel sailor suit will be the best, Jewel.”

“Grandpa said I might wear my silk.  You see I’m going to dinner with him, and that’s just like going to a party, and I ought to be very particular, don’t you think so?”

“Well, don’t sit down on anything dirty at the wharf.  I expect you will,” returned Mrs. Forbes with a resigned sigh, as she proceeded to unfasten Jewel’s tight, thick little braids.

“Just think what a short time we’ll have to miss cousin Eloise,” said the child.  “Day before yesterday she went away, and now to-morrow my mother’ll braid my hair.”  She gave an ecstatic sigh.

“If that’s all you wanted your cousin Eloise for—­to braid your hair—­I guess I could get to do it as well as she did.”

“Oh, I loved cousin Eloise for everything and I always shall love her,” responded the child quickly.  “I only meant I didn’t have to trouble you long with my hair.”

“I think I do it pretty well.”

“Yes, indeed you do—­just as tight.  Do you remember how much it troubled you when I first came? and now it’s so much different!”

“Yes, there are a whole lot of things that are much different,” replied Mrs. Forbes.  “How long do you suppose you’ll be staying with us now, Jewel?”