“Love to my Jewel.  Is she making a stepping-stone of every trial, and learning to think less and less about herself, and more and more about other people?  And does she remember that little girls cannot always understand the error that grown-up people have to meet, especially those who have not Science to help them?  They must be treated very gently, and I hope my little Jewel will be always kind and patient, and make her new friends glad she is there.”

The child folded the paper and put it carefully back in her pocket.  Then she took her bath, and returning to her room undressed her doll in silence.  Finally, changing her wrapper for her nightdress, she climbed into bed, where she lay thinking and looking at the sunlight on the wall.

At dinner time the maid Sarah appeared with a tray.  “Here’s your dinner, Miss Julia,” she said, looking at the heavy-eyed little girl.  “It’s too bad you’re not well.”

“I am well, thank you,” replied Jewel.  “I’m sorry you had to carry that heavy tray up so many stairs.”

“Oh, I don’t mind that,” returned the girl good-naturedly.  “I’ll set it right here by the bed.”

“Is grandpa down there?” asked Jewel wistfully.

“Yes, Miss Julia.  They’re all eating their dinner.  I hope you’ll enjoy yours.”

Sarah went away, and the little girl spread some bread and butter and ate it slowly.

Meanwhile, when the family had gathered at the dinner table, Mr. Evringham looked up at his housekeeper.

“Where is Jewel?” he asked shortly.  “I object to her being unpunctual.”

“Yes, sir.  She is having dinner in her room.  She was very naughty and got wet in the brook.”

“Ah, indeed!” Mr. Evringham frowned and looked down.  He had been a little disappointed that the bright face was not watching to see him come home from his ride, but of course discipline must be maintained.  “I’m sorry to hear this,” he added.

Mrs. Evringham and Eloise found him a shade less taciturn than usual to-night.  He felt vaguely that he now had an ally of his own flesh and blood in the house, a spirit sufficiently kindred to prefer his society to theirs, and this made him unusually lenient.

He meant to go upstairs after dinner, and warn Jewel to be more careful in future to conform to all Mrs. Forbes’s rules; but the meal was scarcely over when a friend called to get him to attend some business meeting held that evening in the interests of the town, and he became interested in his statements and went away with him.

“Wasn’t father quite agreeable this evening?” asked Mrs. Evringham of Eloise.  “What did I tell you?  I could see that he felt relief because that plain little creature was not in evidence.  Father always was so fastidious.  Of course it is selfish in a way, but it is no use to blame men for caring for beauty.  They will do it.”

“It was a shame to make that little girl stay upstairs,” returned Eloise.  “I judge she managed to amuse herself this afternoon, and so she gets punished for it.  I should like to go up and sit with her.”