“Yes, and that somebody is a man whom I must talk to.”

“Then begin right away to know every minute that the real man isn’t anybody to be afraid of, for God made him, and God has only loving thoughts; and of course you must be loving all the time.  It’ll be just as easy by the time you come to it, cousin Eloise!”

The girl often asked herself in these days why she should begin to feel unreasonably hopeful and lighter hearted.  Her mother no longer complained of her moods.  Mrs. Evringham laid the becoming change in her daughter’s expression to the girl’s happiness in discovering that she did reciprocate Dr. Ballard’s evident sentiments.

“Eloise is so high minded,” thought the mother complacently.  “She would never be satisfied to marry for convenience, like so many;” and considering herself passingly astute, she let well enough alone, ceased to bring the physician’s name into every conversation, and bided her time.

One morning Mr. Evringham, coming out of the house to go to town, met Eloise on the piazza.

“You are down early,” he said as he greeted her, and was passing on to the carriage.

“Just one minute, grandfather!” she exclaimed, and how her heart beat.  He turned his erect form in some surprise, and his cold eyes met the girlish ones.

“She’s a stunning creature,” he thought, as the sunlight bathed her young beauty; but his face was impenetrable, and Eloise nerved herself.

“Were you thinking of going golfing this afternoon?” she asked.

“Yes.”

“I thought you said something about it at dinner last evening.  Would you let me go with you?”

Mr. Evringham, much astonished, raised his eyebrows and took off the hat which he had replaced.

“Such a request from youth and beauty is a command,” he returned with a slight bow.

Tears sprang to the girl’s eyes.  “Don’t make fun of me, grandfather!” she exclaimed impulsively.

“Not for worlds,” he returned.  “You will do the laughing when you see me drive.  My hand seems to have lost its cunning this spring.  Shall we say four-thirty?  Very well.  Good-morning.”

“Now what’s all this?” mused Mr. Evringham as he drove to the station.  “Has another granddaughter fallen in love with me?  Methinks not.  What is she after?  Does she want to get away from Ballard?  Methinks not, again.  She’s going to ask me for something probably.  Egad, if she does, I think I’ll turn her over to Jewel.”

Eloise’s eyes were bright during the lesson that morning.

“It’s to-day, Jewel,” she said, “that I’m going to talk with that man I’m afraid of.”

“Never say that again,” returned the child vehemently.  “You are not afraid.  There’s no one to be afraid of.  Do you want me to handle it for you?”

“What do you mean, Jewel?”

“To declare the truth for you.”

“Do you mean give me a treatment for it?”