Again Jewel put her hand under her pillow and drew forth her copy of “Science and Health.”  “I’ll read to you a little, dearie.”  She opened the book to page 393 and read, “Rise in the strength of Spirit to resist all that is unlike God.”  Jewel paused and thought for a minute.  “You might think, Anna Belle, that that meant rise against Mrs. Forbes, but it doesn’t.  It means rise against all error, and one error is believing that Mrs. Forbes is cross or afraid.”  She went on reading for several minutes, passing glibly over familiar phrases and sticking at or skipping words which presented difficulties.

While she was thus employed Eloise again stole quietly to her cousin’s door, and hearing the soft voice she grew pale.  Her mother had exacted a promise from her that she would not enter the room until Dr. Ballard consented, so after a minute’s hesitation she fled downstairs and found Mrs. Forbes.

“I think the little girl must be worse!  She is talking to herself incessantly.”

Mrs. Forbes regarded the pale face coldly.  “I guess there’s some mistake.  She was better when I saw her half an hour ago.  I’ll go up in a minute.”

The minute stretched to five; Jewel had slept scarcely at all the night before, and by the time the housekeeper had laboriously reached her door, her voice had grown fainter, then stopped, and she was sound asleep.

“I wish Mamzell would keep her finger out of this pie,” soliloquized Mrs. Forbes as she retraced her steps.

When Mr. Evringham returned from the city, his first question, as Zeke met him, was concerning Jewel.

“Mother says she’s slept the most of the day,” replied the coachman, his head stiff in his high collar and his eyes looking straight ahead.

“H’m.  A good sign does she think, or is it stupor?”

“I couldn’t say, sir.”

Reaching the house, a long pasteboard box in his hands, Mr. Evringham found that his grandchild was still asleep.

“I fear the worst, Mrs. Forbes,” he said with nervous curtness.  “When a stupor attacks children it is a very bad sign I am told.  I’ll just ring up Ballard.”

He did so, but the doctor had gone out and was intending to call at the park before he returned.

“I really think it is all right, Mr. Evringham,” said Mrs. Forbes, distressed by her employer’s uneasiness.  “Dr. Ballard expected she’d sleep a great deal.  He told me not to disturb her.”

“Oh, very well then, perhaps it is not to be regretted.  Kindly put those roses in the deep vase, Mrs. Forbes.”

“Yes, sir.”  She took up the box.  “Besides, Mr. Evringham, if she does get worse, you know the hospital here is one of the very best, and you”—­

Mr. Evringham wheeled and frowned upon the speaker fiercely.  “Hospital!” he ejaculated.  “An extraordinary suggestion, Mrs. Forbes!  Most extraordinary!  My granddaughter remains in my house.”

Mrs. Forbes, crimson with surprise and mortification, retreated.  “Very well, sir,” she faltered.  “Will you have the roses on the dinner table, Mr. Evringham?”