is housekeeper's opinions had returned in
full force.

He wished to ask for the little girl, to ask what she was doing now, and
what she would like sent up for dinner, but he had not the courage. The
aghast countenance which Mrs. Forbes had exhibited at the moment when
the enormity of Jewel's conduct transpired remained in his memory. The
housekeeper's appearance at present was noncommittal. Mrs. Evringham
sent her piercing and questioning glances in vain.

The silence in the usually silent room had not had time to become
noticeable when the portiere was pushed aside and Jewel, arrayed in
the dotted dress and carefully bearing the tall vase of nodding roses,
entered the room.

Mrs. Evringham uttered a little cry and dropped her spoon. Eloise stared
wild-eyed. The housekeeper flushed.

"Good evening," said the child, glancing about as she approached, and
sighing with relief as she set the heavy vase on the edge of the table.
"I had to come down so carefully not to spill, grandpa, that it made
me a little late. Mrs. Forbes said you brought me the roses under
false--false pretends, so I thought perhaps you would like them on the
table."

The housekeeper, hurrying forward, seized the vase from its precarious
position and placed it in the centre of the board. "I didn't tell you
you might come downstairs," she said, as she buttoned the middle button
of Jewel's dress.

The little girl looked up in innocent surprise. "You said I might dress
me, so why should anybody have to bring up my dinner?" she asked.

Mrs. Forbes's countenance looked so lowering that Mr. Evringham hastened
to speak in his brusque and final fashion. "She is here now. Might as
well let her stay."

Jewel jumped into her chair and turned toward him with an apologetic
smile. "I couldn't make my hair look very nice," she said, with the
lift of her shoulders which he had come to connect with her confidential
moments. Remembering the feverish child of the morning, he looked at her
in silent wonder. The appearance of her flaxen head he could see was
in contrast to the trim and well-cared-for look it had worn when she
arrived.

"Poor little thing!" he thought. "She looks motherless--motherless."
Involuntarily he cast a glance of impatience at his other guests. The
expression of blank amazement on their faces stirred him to amusement.

"If you are afraid of infection, Madge, don't hesitate to retire to your
room," he said. "Your dinner will be sent to yo