"Oh ye--es!"replied the child with amused scorn."How would I get my lessons if I couldn't read?Of course--big words,"she added conscientiously.
"Precisely,"agreed Mr.Evringham dryly."Big words,I dare say."A sudden thought occurring to his companion,she looked up again.
"You pretty nearly didn't come,"she said,"and just think,if you hadn't I was going to England.Father said so."At the sweet inflections of the child's voice Mr.Evringham's brows contracted with remembrance of his wrongs."I should have come.Your father might have known that!""I suppose he wouldn't have liked to leave me sitting on the dock alone,but I should have known you'd come.The funny part is Ishouldn't have known you."Jewel laughed."I should have kept looking for an old man with white hair and a cane like Grandpa Morris.
He's a grandpa in Chicago that I know.He's just as kind as he can be,but he has the queerestback.He goes to our church,but says he came in at the eleventh hour.I think he used to have rheumatism.And while I was sitting there you could have walked right by me.""Humph!"
"But then you'd have known me,"went on Jewel,straightening Anna Belle's hat,"so it would have been all right.You'd have known there would be only one little girl waiting there,and you would have said,'Oh,here you are,Jewel.I've come.I'm your grandpa.'"The child unconsciously mimicked the short,brusque speech.
Mr.Evringham regarded her rather darkly."Eh?I hope you're not impudent?""What's that?"asked Jewel doubtfully.
Her companion's brow grew darker.