the
horse's back with her arms around her grandfather's neck.

He had forgotten his rheumatic shoulder for the time.

"You can bring those rubbers in later," he said to Zeke, and so carried
Jewel out of the barn, through the rain, and into the house.

Mrs. Forbes watched the entrance. "Breakfast is served, sir," she said
with dignity. She thought her employer should have worn a hat.

Jewel was not offered eggs this morning. Instead she had, after her
fruit and oatmeal, a slice of ham and a baked potato.

Her roses were fresh this morning and opening in the warmth of the fire,
but Mr. Evringham's eyes were caught by a mass of American Beauties
which stood in an alcove close to the window.

"Where did those come from?" he demanded.

"They belong to Miss Eloise," replied Mrs. Forbes. "She asked me to take
care of them for her."

"Humph! Ballard again, I suppose," remarked the broker.

"I hope so," responded Mrs. Forbes devoutly.

Mr. Evringham had spoken to himself, and he glanced up from his paper,
surprised by the prompt fervor of the reply. The housekeeper looked
non-committal, but her meaning dawned upon him, and he smiled slightly
as he returned to the news of the day.

"Dr. Ballard must love Cousin Eloise very much," said Jewel, mashing her
potato. "He sent her a splendid box of candy, too."

She addressed her remark to Mrs. Forbes, and in a low tone, in order not
to disturb her grandfather's reading.

"Any girl can get candy and flowers and love, if she's only pretty
enough," returned Mrs. Forbes; "but she mustn't forget to be pretty."

The speaker's tone appealed to Jewel as signifying a grievance. She
looked up.

"Why, somebody married you, Mrs. Forbes," she said kindly.

Mr. Evringham's paper hid a face which suddenly contorted, but the
housekeeper's quick-glancing eyes could not see a telltale motion.

She gave a hard little laugh. "You think there's hope for you then, do
you?" she returned.

"I guess I'm not going to be married," replied Jewel. "Father says I'm
going to be his bachelor maid when I grow up."

"Shouldn't wonder if you were," said Mrs. Forbes dryly.

The owner of the American Beauties and the beribboned bonbon box was
taking her coffee as usual in bed. This luxurious habit had never been
hers until she came to Bel-Air; but it was her mother's custom, and
rather than undergo a tete-a-tete breakfast with her host, she had
adopted it.

Now she had made her toilet deliberate