“It will be all right, of course, if things are settled,” she thought.  “I can scarcely wait for Eloise to come home.”

Jewel had come from the barn straight to her room, where she thought upon her problem with the aids she loved.

At last she went downstairs to a side door to watch for Zeke as he drove from the barn on his way to the station to meet Mr. Evringham.  As the horse walked out of the barn she emerged and intercepted the coachman.

Mrs. Forbes at a window saw Zeke stop.  She wondered what Jewel was saying to him, wondered with a humble gratitude novel to her dominating nature.

“Wait one minute, Zeke,” said the child.  “I’ve been wondering whether I ought to say anything to grandpa.”

“If you do I’ll lose my place,” returned the young fellow; “and I’ve never done wrong by the horses yet.”

“I know you haven’t.  God has taken care of you, hasn’t he, Zeke?  Do you think it’s right for me not to tell grandpa?  I’ve decided that I’ll do whatever you say.”

It was the wisdom of the serpent and the harmlessness of the dove.  Zeke, nervously fingering the whip handle, looked down into the guileless face and mentally vowed never to betray the trust he saw there.

“Then don’t tell him, Jewel,” he returned rather thickly, for the fullness in his throat.  “You come out to the barn the way you said you would, and we’ll talk over things.  I don’t care if the boys do laugh.  I’ve sworn off.  I believe you helped Essex Maid the other night.  I believe you can help me.”

Jewel’s eyes were joyful.  “If you know you want help, Zeke, then you’ll get it.  Mother says that’s the first thing.  Mortal mind is so proud.”

“Mine ain’t strutting much,” returned Zeke as he drove on.

Jewel amused herself about the grounds until the phaeton should return with her grandfather.

When she saw it coming she ran down to the gate and hopped and skipped back beside it, Mr. Evringham watching her gyrations unsmilingly.

As he dismounted at the piazza she clung to his hand going up the steps.  “Which are you going to do, grandpa, go riding or play golf?”

“Which do you want me to do?” he asked.

“When you ride it’s more fun for me,” she replied.

He seated himself in one of the chairs and she leaned against its broad arm.

“It’s rather more fun for me, too.  I’m growing lazy.  I think I’ll ride.”

“Good!”

“What have you been doing to-day, Jewel?”

“Well,”—­meditatively,—­“cousin Eloise went to New York, so I had to get my lesson alone.  And I didn’t braid my hair over.”

Mr. Evringham looked startled.  “She’ll do it, I dare say, before dinner,” he replied.

“If she has time.  She has gone riding with Dr. Ballard.  They just trotted away together.  Oh, it was lovely!”

Mr. Evringham, leaning his head back, looked off under his heavy brows as he responded:—­