Mrs.Evringham approached them with solicitude.
"They're looking finely,Mrs.Forbes,"she said suavely."You surely understand the care of roses."She lifted the silver scissors that hung from her chatelaine and succeeded in severing one of the long stems.
"Here,little girl,"she added,advancing to Eloise,"you need this in your white gown to cheer us up this rainy day."The girl shrank and opened her lips to decline,but restrained herself and submitted to have the flower pinned amid her laces.
Jewel gazed at her in open admiration.The glowing color lent a wonderful touch to the girl's beauty.Mrs.Evringham laughed low at the fascinated look in the plain little face,and luncheon began.
To Jewel it differed much from the ones that had preceded it.Mrs.
Forbes might hover like a large black cloud,aunt Madge might rail at the weather which cut her off from her afternoon drive,but the morning's experience seemed to have put the child into new relations with all,and Eloise often gave her a friendly glance or smile as the meal progressed.
It was destined to a surprising interruption.In the midst of the discussion of lamb chops and Saratoga chips the door opened,and in walked Dr.Ballard.The shoulders of his becoming raincoat were spangled with drops,his hat was in his hand,a deprecatory smile brightened his face.
"Forgive me,won't you?"he said as he advanced to Mrs.Evringham and clasped the outstretched hand which eagerly welcomed him."It was my one leisure half hour to-day."He brought the freshness of the spring air with him,and he went on around the table shaking hands with the others,and finally drew up a chair beside Jewel.
"No,I can't eat anything,"he declared in response to the urging of Mrs.Evringham and the housekeeper."Can't stay long enough for that."His eyes fastened on the graceful girl opposite him,who was trying to offset her blushes by a direct and nonchalant gaze.The rose on her breast seemed to be scorching her cheeks.She knew that her mother was exulting in the lucky inspiration which had made her set it there.