The rain and wind lasted for three days,clearing at last on an evening which proved eventful.
Mr.Evringham had taken a long ride into the country roundabout,and Jewel had been down at the gate to greet his return.He swung her up into the saddle with him,and in triumph she rode to the barn.
Mrs.Evringham observed this from the window and reported to Eloise.
"I didn't suppose father would be so indulgent to any living thing as he is to that child,"she said rather dejectedly."Do you know,Eloise,Mrs.Forbes says that Jewel spends every evening with him in his study.""Indeed?I'm not surprised.He had to take pity on her since we would not."Mrs.Evringham sighed."I really believe nobody was ever so exasperating as you are,"she returned."When Jewel first came,if you remember,I wished to welcome her,--in fact I did,--but you refused to be decently civil.Now you speak as if we had made a mistake,and that it was my fault.I wish you would let Dr.Ballard prescribe for you.Idon't think you are well."
"He does prescribe roses and chocolates,and I take them,don't I?""Yes,and after this you can have some golf.It will do you good."To-day was the third during which Eloise had helped her cousin with the morning lesson and brushed and braided her hair.Jewel had had many minds about whether to tell Eloise of her escaped secret.An intuition bade her refrain,but the sense of dishonesty was more than the child could bear;so that morning,during the hair braiding,she had confessed.She began thus:--"I wrote to my father and mother last night how good you were to me.""Did you tell them how good you were to me?"asked the girl,so kindly that the child's heart leaped within her and she more than ever wished that she had nothing to confess.
"I wish I could be,cousin Eloise;I meant to be,but error crept in."The girl was learning something of the new phraseology,and she smiled at Jewel in the glass and was surprised to find what troubled eyes met hers."I went to sleep that night waiting for grandpa to be through with his book,and when I waked up he had read my letter."Eloise's smile faded."Tell me again what you said in it,"she returned.