At the lunch table she gave a vivacious account of the morning's diversions,and for once Mrs.Evringham listened to what she said,a curious expression on her face.This lady had expected to endure annoyance with this child on her grandfather's account;but for unkind fate to cause Jewel to be a hindrance and a marplot in the case of Dr.
Ballard was adding insult to injury.
The child,suddenly catching the expression of Mrs.Evringham's eyes as they rested upon her,was startled,and ceased talking.
"Aunt Madge does love me,"she declared mentally."God's children love one another every minute,every minute.""So Mr.Reeves told you where you can go to church,"said Eloise,replying to Jewel's last bit of information.
"Yes,and"--the little girl was going on eagerly to suggest that her cousin accompany her,when suddenly Dr.Ballard's eyes seemed looking at her and repeating their protest.
She stopped,and ate for a time in silence.Mrs.Forbes paid little attention to what was being said.She moved about perfunctorily,with an air of preoccupation.She had a more serious trouble now than the care and intrusion of the belongings of Lawrence and Harry Evringham,a worry that for days and nights had not ceased to gnaw at her heart,first as a suspicion and afterward as a certainty.
When luncheon was over,Eloise in leaving the dining-room,put her arm around Jewel's shoulders,and together they strolled through the hall and out upon the piazza.
Mrs.Evringham looked after them."If only that child weren't a little fanatic and Eloise in such an erratic,wayward state,ready to seize upon anything novel,it would be all very well,"she mused,"for Dr.