"I haven't noticed any dust,Dr.Ballard.I'm having the most fun!""Well now,I'm glad of that.It's a great thing to be eight years old,Jewel.""That's what cousin Eloise says.She says she'd like to be.""Indeed?How is the enchanting--excuse me--I mean the enchanted maiden this morning?""She's well.She ties my bows now,so grandpa doesn't have to.""Ties your--"The doctor looked at the speaker,mystified.
Jewel put her hand up to the small billows of silk behind her ear."My hair bows.They were real hard for grandpa to do."Dr.Ballard repressed a guffaw,and then turned solemn."Do you mean to say that Mr.Evringham tied your hair ribbons?""Why yes."
"That settles it,Jewel.You must go into partnership with me and wave wands and things.Setting Essex Maid on her legs wasn't a patch on that."Jewel regarded him questioningly a moment and then repeated,"But it was real hard for grandpa.""I can believe it!"
"And cousin Eloise is the kindest girl.She's like grandpa about that.
Her kindness is inside,too."
"Is it indeed?You don't know how much I thank you for telling me where to look for it.""Oh,she must be kind to you,Dr.Ballard!""Once in a while,once in a while,"he replied cautiously,but Jewel couldn't get a look into his eyes,though she tried,he was so busily engaged poking an invisible fly from Hector's side with the point of the whip."If you'll find a way to make her kind to me all the time,Jewel,then you will be my mascot indeed.""All you have to do is to know she is,"replied the child earnestly.