t mean that. The
whole thing seems like a dream now," he added.

"What else could it seem like?" returned Jewel, smiling faintly toward
her grandfather with an air of having caught him napping.

"Like reality," he returned dryly.

She gazed at him, her smile fading.

He looked up apprehensively and cringed a little, not at all sure that
the next instant would not find the rose-leaf cheek next his, and a
close whisper driving cold chills down his back; but the child only
paused a moment.

"Reality is so much different from sin, disease, and death," she said at
last, in a matter-of-fact manner. It was too much for Mrs. Evringham's
risibles. She laughed in spite of her daughter's reproachful glance.

"How wonderful if true!" she exclaimed.

"It is true," returned Jewel soberly. "Even Anna Belle knows that; but
I'm sure that you haven't learned anything about Christian Science, aunt
Madge," she added politely.

"What makes you so sure?" returned Mrs. Evringham banteringly.

Jewel flushed with embarrassment and glanced at her grandfather
involuntarily, but he was busy eating and evidently would not help her.

"I'd rather not say," replied the child at last, and her rejoinder
incited her aunt to further merriment.

"Aunt Madge doesn't laugh in a nice way," thought Jewel. "It's even
pleasanter when she looks sorry."

"What is real then, Jewel?" asked Eloise gravely.

The child flashed upon her a sweet look.

"Everything good and glad," she answered.

Something rose in the girl's throat, and she pressed her lips together
for an instant.

"You are happy to believe that," she returned.

"Oh, I don't believe it," replied Jewel. "It's one of the things I
_know_. Mother says we only believe things when we aren't sure about
them. Mother knows such a lot of beautiful truth."

The child looked at her cousin wistfully as she spoke. Eloise could
scarcely retain her proud and nonchalant bearing beneath the blue eyes.
They seemed to see through to her wretchedness.

She did not look at Jewel again during dinner. At the close Mr.
Evringham pushed his chair back.

"I should like you to come with me into my study, Jewel, for a few
minutes."

The child's face brightened, and she left the table with alacrity. Mr.
Evringham stood back to allow his guests to pass out. They went on to
the drawing-room, where Mrs. Evringham's self-restraint was loosed.

"The plot thickens, Eloise!" she said.

"And we are not going away