laughing.

Mrs. Evringham stood with lips parted, looking after him. Her heart beat
fast. The doctor had called twice. He had come down the stairs in dead
silence just now. She knew it, for she had been listening and waiting
to intercept him. She had meant to say a number of pretty things to him
concerning Eloise's anxiety about her little cousin. Her own anxiety
redoubled, and she hurried to her daughter's room and narrated her
experience.

"I really think we may have to go, Eloise," she finished nervously.
"Even if it isn't infectious, it is so dreadfully dispiriting to be in a
house where there is a dangerous illness, and possibly worse. I've been
thinking perhaps we might go in town and take lodgings for a while. No
one need know it. We could even stay there through the summer. None of
our friends would be in town; then in autumn we could come back here."

Eloise's lip curled. "I doubt that," she returned. "Grandfather will
be forearmed. I prophesy, mother, that you will never get our trunks up
here again after you once take them out."

"Really, Eloise, you do put things most repulsively," returned Mrs.
Evringham with vexation. "Besides, how do we know what the future is
going to bring forth? Father behaves to me as if he might be on the
verge of brain fever himself."

"Poor little Jewel!" exclaimed the girl. "I hope she will pull through,
but if she is the cause of our leaving here, I shall always love her
memory."

"I don't know whether father will even come to dinner," said Mrs.
Evringham, pursuing her own thoughts, "but I suppose we shall see Mrs.
Forbes. I do hope she has some sense about using disinfectants. It's
outrageous for her to come near the dining-room when she is taking care
of that child. Of course they'll have a nurse at once. Forbes doesn't
like going out of her beaten track."

"I can't forget that poor little voice rambling on so monotonously this
afternoon," said Eloise. "I strained my ears to listen, but I could
make out only that she said something about 'love' and then about
'righteousness.' What a word for that little mouth."

"I've seen smaller," remarked Mrs. Evringham.

When finally they entered the dining-room punctually at the appointed
hour,--even Mrs. Evringham dared take no liberties with that,--the host
was there and greeted them as usual. Mrs. Forbes came in and took her
position near him. Her employer gave her a side glance. His fears for
Jewel allayed, his regard for h