Mrs. Forbes also stared at the child, and she winced.

“I do love them, and they do love me,” she thought.  “I don’t remember ever speaking about it before the doctor unless somebody asked me,” she said aloud.

“Your cousin Eloise may ask you,” returned Mrs. Evringham.  “Nobody else would.  She does it in a spirit of mischief, perhaps, but I shall speak to her.  She has a passing curiosity about your ideas because it is odd and rather amusing to find a child who has such unnatural and precocious fancies, and she tries to draw you out; but it will not last with her.  Neither will it with you, probably.  You seem to be a sensible little girl in many ways.”  Mrs. Evringham made the addition magnanimously.  She really was too much at peace with all the world just now to like to be severe.

Outwardly Jewel was silent.  Inwardly she was declaring many things which would have surprised her companions.

“Does your cousin Eloise pretend to you that she is becoming seriously interested in your faith?” pursued Mrs. Evringham.

“She will tell you all about it,” returned Jewel.

Aunt Madge shrugged her shoulders and laughed a little.  Her thoughts reverted to her daughter’s trip to the city.  She had wondered several times if it had any pleasant connection with her sudden good understanding with Mr. Evringham.

To Jewel’s relief her thoughts remained preoccupied during the remainder of the meal; and as soon as the child could leave, she flew to the closet under the stairs, where Anna Belle often went into retreat during the luncheon hour, and from thence back to the garden she was making by the brookside.

When she returned to the house her eyes lighted as she saw two horses before the piazza, and Dr. Ballard standing beside one of them.

“How are you, Jewel?” he asked, as she danced up to him smiling.  Stooping, he lifted her into the side saddle, from whence she beamed upon him.

“Oh, what fun you’re going to have!” she cried.

“I’d like to be sure of that,” he answered, his gloved hand on the pommel.

“What do you mean?” incredulously.  “You don’t like that automobile better, do you?  They’re so—­so stubby.  I must have a horse, a horse!” She smoothed and patted her steed lovingly.

“You ought to have—­Jewel of the world,” he said kindly.  “My bad angel!” he added, looking up quizzically into her eyes, and smiling at the widening wonder that grew in them.

“Your—­what?” she asked, and then Eloise came out in her habit.

“I’m going instead of you,” cried the child gayly, “to pay you for staying away all day.”

“Did you miss me?” asked the girl as she shook hands with her escort.

“I tried not to.  Anna Belle and I have something to show you in the ravine.”  As she spoke, Jewel slid down into the doctor’s arms, and stood on the steps watching while he put Eloise up and mounted himself.