“If you’ll excuse me differing with you, Mr. Evringham, I don’t think that child’s got a shy bone in her body.  In the trolley car yesterday, didn’t she make up to a perfect stranger!  She eyed him and fingered that little gold pin she wears, till he smiled and touched one of the same pattern in his own cravat.  Young as she is, she’s some kind of a free mason or secret society, you may be sure.  I actually saw him take her hand and give her the grip as he got out of the car.  Why you know who it is, it was Mr. Reeves of Highland Street.”

“H’m.  You are imaginative, Mrs. Forbes.  Mr. Reeves is fond of children, and Jewel has a friendly way of looking at people.”

The housekeeper bridled.  “Well, all is, I guess, you’ll find I ain’t imaginative when you come to talk with her about the doctor,” was the firm response.  “When I said medicine she looked as scared as if I’d said poison.”

“H’m.  Been dosed then.  Mother an allopath probably.  Burnt child dreads the fire.  I think homeopathy is the thing for children.  Guy will do very well.  Call him up at once, please.  He might go out.”

When Mr. Evringham had finished his breakfast, he climbed to the white room, planning as he went a short and peremptory speech to the rebellious one; for he had less time left than usual for his daily talk with his housekeeper before catching the train.

The curtains in the room were half drawn as he entered, and the child’s figure looked small in the big white bed.  She exclaimed as he drew near, and seizing his hand, kissed it.

“You’d better not kiss me, grandpa, because I’m so hot and uncomfortable,” she said thickly.  “Oh, how I wanted to see you all night!”

The little hands clinging to his were burning.  He sat down on the edge of the bed.

“I’m very sorry for this, Jewel.  It’s your own fault, I understand, my girl.”

“Yes, I know it is.  When I first called the house Castle Discord and talked to Anna Belle about the error fairy, and the enchanted maiden, and the giantess, I didn’t see it was hate creeping in and making me not careful to deny it all.  I know it is all my fault.”

Mr. Evringham gazed at the flushed face with startled eyes.  “Dear me, this is really very bad!” he thought.  “Delirious so early in the morning.  I wish Guy would come!”

“Well, we’ll soon have Dr. Ballard here,” he said aloud, trying to speak soothingly.  “He’ll set you all right very soon.”

“Oh, grandpa, dear grandpa,” with the utmost earnestness, “would you please not send for the doctor?  I won’t be any trouble.  I don’t want anything to eat, only a drink of water, and I’ll soon be well.”

Her beseeching tone and her helplessness touched some unsuspected chord in her listener’s breast.

“Jewel, don’t you want to go out to the stable with me and feed Essex Maid with sugar?” he asked.

“Yes, grandpa,” with a half sob.