The housekeeper looked at her in silent perplexity.The blue eyes were direct and innocent,but there was a heaviness about them that stirred Mrs.Forbes uncomfortably.
"You must have got too tired playing this afternoon,Julia,"she said decisively,"or you would be hungry for your dinner.You took that hot bath I told you to?""Yes'm."
"Where have you put your wet things?Oh,I see,you've spread them out very nicely;but those shoes--I shall have to have them cleaned and polished for you.Now go to sleep as quick as you can and have a long night's rest.I'm sure the next time you go out you won't be so careless."Jewel's eyes followed the speaker as she bustled about and at last took up the tray.
"Will you kiss me good-night,Mrs.Forbes?"asked the child.
The surprised housekeeper set down her burden,stooped over the bed and kissed her.
"There now,I see you're sorry,"she said,somewhat touched.
Jewel gave her a little smile."No'm,I've stopped being sorry,"she replied.
"She'd puzzle a Philadelphia lawyer,"soliloquized the housekeeper as she descended the stairs with the tray."I suppose her mother is uneducated and uses queer English.As the old ones croak,the young ones learn.The child uses words nobody ever heard of,and is ignorant of the commonest ones.I'm glad she's so fond of me if I've got to take care of her."