"Then you must get your feet wet.I think you better have had rubbers than a silk dress!What was your mother thinking of?"Jewel sighed vaguely.She wondered how soon Mrs.Forbes would go away.
This happy event occurred before long,and the little girl amused herself for a while with rearranging somewhat the closet and drawers.
Then putting on her hat and taking her doll with her,she stole quietly down the thickly carpeted stairs,and opening the heavy hall door,went out upon the piazza.It was sheltered from the wind,and wicker chairs were scattered about.Jewel looked off curiously amid the trees to where she knew,by her father's description,she should find,after a few minutes'ramble,the ravine and brook.Pretty soon she would wander out there.Just now the sun was warm here,and the roomy chairs held out inviting arms.The child climbed into one of them.Father would come back here some happy day and find her.The thought brought a smile,and with the smile on her lips,her head fell back against a yielding cushion,and in a minute she had fallen asleep.Anna Belle toppled over backward.Her plumed hat was pushed rakishly askew,but little she cared.Her eyelids had fallen,too.
Mrs.Evringham and Eloise,returning late from their luncheon,came upon the little sleeping figure as they walked around the long piazza.
"There she is!"exclaimed Mrs.Evringham softly,putting up her lorgnette."Behold your rival!"Eloise regarded the sleeper without curiosity.
"At least she has not come uninvited,"was her only comment.
"But she has come unwelcome,my dear,"returned Mrs.Evringham with relish."Just wait until our gracious host realizes what he has let himself in for.Oh,there's a good time coming,you may be sure.Hush,don't waken her!It would be a blessed dispensation if she were always to sleep while her grandfather is absent,"and Mrs.Evringham led the way into the house,her laces fluttering.
On the first landing the ladies met Mrs.Forbes,troubled of countenance.