The sweet smelling soap on the marble stand,the silver mountings of the faucets,the large fine towels,the empty closet and drawers,all looked inviting.Throughout her examination the little girl kept pausing to listen.
Surely aunt Madge and cousin Eloise would look in before they went out to their engagement.Mother had so often said how nice it was that they were there.Surely they didn't know that she had arrived.That was it,of course;and Mrs.Forbes was so sorry and anxious she would probably forget to tell them.
Some altercation was just then going on in the apartments of those ladies.
"We ought to speak to her before we go,"said Mrs.Evringham persuasively."Father would probably resent it if we didn't.""I have told you already,"returned Eloise,"that I do not intend doing one thing henceforward that grandfather could interpret as being done to please him.""But that is carrying it ridiculously far,not to greet your cousin,who has come from a journey and is your guest.""My guest!"returned the girl derisively."We are hers more likely.Iwill not go to her.The sooner grandfather sends us away the better."Mrs.Evringham looked worried.
"This is mania,Eloise!"she returned coaxingly."Very well,I shall go and speak to the child.She shan't be able to tell her grandfather of any rudeness."In a few minutes Jewel,sitting by her window,Anna Belle in her lap,heard the frou-frouof skirts in the hall,and with a knock at the door,a lady entered.She was arrayed in a thin black gown and wore a large black hat,that was very becoming.