"Isn't this beautiful!"cried the child joyfully,as the boat steamed on."Can you do this every day,grandpa?""What?Oh yes,yes."
Something in the tone caused the little girl to look up from her view of the wide water spaces to the grim face above.
"Is there something that makes you sorry,grandpa?"she asked softly.
His eyes were fixed on a ferry boat,black with its human freight,about to pass them on its way to the city.
"I was wishing I were on that boat.That's all."The little girl lifted her shoulders."I don't believe there's room,"she said,looking smilingly for a response from her companion."Idon't believe even Anna Belle could squeeze on.Do you think so?"Mr.Evringham,holding his hat with one hand,was endeavoring to fetter the lively corners of his newspaper in such shape that he could at least get a glimpse of headlines.
"Oh,I see a statue.Is that it,grandpa?Is that it?""What?"vaguely."Oh yes.The statue of Liberty.Yes,that's it.As if there was any liberty for anybody!"muttered Mr.Evringham into his mustache.
"It isn't so very big,"objected Jewel.
"We're not so very near it."
"Just think,"gayly,"father and mother are sailing away just the way we are.""H'm,"returned Mr.Evringham,trying to read the report of the stock market,and becoming more impatient each instant with the sportive breeze.
"Julia,"he said at last,"I am going into the cabin to read the paper.Will you go in,or do you wish to stay here?""May I stay here?"
"Yes,"doubtfully,"I suppose so,if you won't climb on the rail,or--or anything."
Jewel laughed in gleeful appreciation of the joke.Her grandfather met her blue eyes unsmilingly and vanished.