s house, and you don't need
any matches. See?" Mrs. Forbes turned the switch and the white room was
flooded with light.

A few hours ago this magic would have evoked much enthusiasm. Even now
Jewel was pleased to turn the light on and off several times, as Mrs.
Forbes told her to do.

"Now I'll see if you can undress yourself," said the housekeeper.
Jewel's deft fingers flew over the buttons in her eagerness to prove her
independence. When at last she stood in her little white nightgown, so
neat and fine in its small decorations, Mrs. Forbes said, "Do you want
me to hear you say your prayers?"

"No, I thank you." With her hasty response Jewel promptly jumped into
the bed, from which the white spread had been removed.

"I hope you always say them," said Mrs. Forbes, regarding her
undecidedly.

"Yes'm, I always do."

The child cuddled down under the covers with her face to the wall, lest
Mrs. Forbes should see a further duty and do it.

"You ought to say them on your knees," continued the housekeeper.

"I'd just as lief," replied Jewel, "but I don't believe God cares."

"Well," returned Mrs. Forbes solemnly, "it is a matter for your own
conscience, Julia, if your mother didn't train you to it. Good-night."

"Good-night," came faintly from beneath the bedclothes.

Mrs. Forbes turned off the light and went out, closing the door behind
her.

"If she'd always speak when she's spoken to, and be quiet and modest as
she is with me, she'd be a very well-behaved child," she soliloquized.
"I could train her. I shouldn't wonder at all if her mother should see a
great difference in her when she comes back."

The housekeeper went heavily downstairs. Jewel, pushing off the
bedclothes, listened attentively to the retiring steps, and when they
could no longer be heard, she jumped out of bed nimbly, and feeling for
the electric switch, turned on the light. Her breath was coming rather
unevenly, and she ran over the soft carpet to where her doll lay.
Catching her up, she pressed her to her breast, then sitting down in the
big chair, she began to undress her, crossing one little bare foot over
the other knee to make a lap.

"Darling Anna Belle, did you think I'd forgotten you?" she asked
breathlessly. "Did you think you weren't going to have any one to
kiss you good-night? It's hard not to have any one you love kiss you
good-night." Jewel dashed her hand across her eyes quickly, then went
swiftly on with her work. "You mig