The little girl stood very still a moment."No wonder they're sorry,"she thought.
"All right.We can both look over one,"she answered,and going to the dresser she brought her books.
"Was this the study you meant?"asked Eloise,looking at the three books curiously."I thought I was offering to help you with something I knew about.I used to learn verses out of the Bible when I was a little girl in Sunday-school.I don't know anything about it now.""But you can read everything,the big words and all,"replied Jewel.
"I wish I could."
Eloise saw that this reply was designed to minister to her self-respect.She took up the small black book lying with the Bible."What is this?""That is 'Science and Health,'that Mrs.Eddy wrote to explain to us what the Bible means;and this other one is to tell us where to pick out the places for the day's lesson."Jewel pulled up a chair,and seating herself,turned over the leaves of the Quarterly briskly until she found the right date.
"Please find Zechariah,cousin Eloise."
"What's that?"asked the girl helplessly.
"It's in the Old Testament.Would you rather I'd find them?All right,then you can take 'Science and Health'and find that part.""I hope it's easy,for I'm awfully stupid,Jewel.""Oh,it's very easy.You'll see."The child found the chapter and verse in the Bible and read,with her finger on the line.Eloise looked over and read with her.Thus they went through all the verses for the day,then Jewel began to give the page and line to be read in the text-book.
This volume was small and agreeable to handle,the India paper pleasant to the girl's dainty touch.According to the child's request,she read aloud the lines which were called for.
"That's all,"said Jewel at last."Oh cousin Eloise,it's just lovely and easy to get the lesson with you,"she added gratefully.
Eloise made no response.Her eye had been caught by a statement on the page before her,and she read on in silence.