Mrs. Evringham regarded her daughter.  “Young people are eager for novelty, I know,” she said, “and it would seem as if an interest in a child was an innocent diversion for you at a time when you were growing morbid, but I do think I’m the most unlucky woman in the world!  To think that the child should have to be a Christian Scientist, and that you should take this perverse interest in her ideas just now.  I haven’t spoken of your remarks about the horse last night, but it was in poor taste, to say the least, to mention such nonsense before Dr. Ballard, and apparently do it so seriously.  I knew you had been helping Jewel with lessons, but until last evening I didn’t suspect that it might all be on that odious subject.  Is it, Eloise?”

“Yes, but it isn’t odious.  I like the fruit of it in her.”

“You’ve never shown Dr. Ballard your most agreeable side, and now if you’re going to parade before him, an Episcopalian and a physician, an interest in this—­anarchism, I shan’t blame him in the smallest degree if he gives up all thought of you.”

Eloise, the undemonstrative, put an arm around her mother.  “Shan’t you, really?” she replied wistfully.  “If I could only hope that.”

“Do you want to give me nervous prostration?” rejoined Mrs. Evringham sharply.  “Eloise,” her voice suddenly breaking, “do you love to torment me?”

“Indeed I don’t, poor mother, but I’ve been so tormented myself, and so desirous not to—­oh, not to do anything ignoble!  I can’t tell you all I’ve endured since—­” She paused, her lips unsteady.

“Since we lost your father,” dismally.  “Yes, I know it.  I’m the most unlucky woman in the world!”

Eloise’s arm tightened about her mother as she went on, “Since I was enchanted and thrown into Castle Discord.”  She looked off at the mental picture of her cousin.  “Mother,” she turned back suddenly, “what a wonderful thing it is if there really is a God.”

“Why, Eloise Evringham, have you ever doubted it!  That’s positively ill-bred!”

“But One that would be any good to us!  Jewel’s mother thinks she knows such a One, and so does the child.  I wish you’d look into this Christian Science with me.  You might find it better than getting grandfather to pay our bills, better than marrying me to Dr. Ballard.”

Mrs. Evringham raised her eyes to her deity.  “What have I ever done,” she ejaculated, “that I should have a queer child!  Well, I will not look into it,” she returned decidedly; “and if Dr. Ballard were not the broad, noble type of man that he is, he wouldn’t take the trouble to notice and entertain a child who has treated him as she has.  It might touch even you to see the lengths to which he goes to please you.  I hope you will at least have the grace to go down with Jewel to the buggy and see them off.”

“I couldn’t in this wrapper,” replied Eloise, releasing the speaker.

“Of course not, so put on a dress before you go up to Jewel.”