“A great many visitors go,” replied the child earnestly.  Then she added, with unmistakably sincere naivete, “I don’t mind leaving you in the daytime, because we’re used to it; but I was thinking it would make me homesick, grandpa, to go away in the evening and leave you in the library.”

Mr. Evringham took her little hand in his.  “Have you thought, Jewel,” he asked, “how it will be when you leave me altogether?”

“I shall have mother and father then,” returned the child.

“Yes; but whom shall I have?”

The question came curtly, and Jewel looked into the deep-set eyes in surprise.  “Shall you miss me, grandpa?” she asked wonderingly.

“Whom shall I have, I say?” he repeated.

The child thought a minute.  “Just who you had before,” she answered, slipping her arm around his neck.  “There’s Essex Maid, you know.”

The broker gave a short laugh.  “Yes.  It’s lucky, isn’t it?” he returned, rather bitterly.

“Do you like to have me with you, grandpa?” pursued the child, pleased.

“Yes; confound it, Jewel, yes.”

“Then Divine Love will fix it somehow, for I love to be with you, too.”

“You do, eh?  Then I’ll tell you that I received a letter from your father yesterday.  It was a very pleasant letter, but it said they felt obliged, if they could, to stay over a little longer—­two or three weeks longer.”

The child’s face grew thoughtful.

“He said they had just received your letter, and were very pleased and thankful to know that you were happy.  He said it would be a business advantage to them to stay, but that they could come home at the appointed time if you wished it.  I am to cable them to-morrow, if you do.”  Silence for a minute while Jewel thought.  “Do you think you can be happy with me a little longer than you expected?”

“I do want to see mother and father very much,” returned the child, “but I’m just as happy as anything,” she added heartily, after a pause.

Mr. Evringham had listened with surprising anxiety for the verdict.  “Very well, very well,” he returned, with extra brusqueness, picking up his newspaper.  “I guess there won’t be anything to prevent my going to that meeting with you Wednesday evening, Jewel.  Just once, you understand, once only.”

At this moment the brougham drove around to the steps, and Eloise came out upon the piazza.  She was a vision of dainty purity in her white gown, white hat, and gloves.

Mr. Evringham rose, lifted his hat, and going down the steps opened the door of the carriage.  “A man need not be ashamed to have these two ladies represent him at church,” he said, looking into Eloise’s calm eyes.

She smiled back at him.  There was no suspicion now of sarcasm or stings.  The air she breathed was wholesome and inviting.  The lump had been leavened.

Arrived at the hall where the services were held, the girls were ushered into good seats before the room rapidly filled.