erfect thing, and
has dominion over every belief of everything else."

Eloise stared at her in wonder. "Do you know what you've talking about,
you little thing, when you use all those long words?"

"Yes. Don't you?" asked the child. "Oh, listen!" for a bird suddenly
poured a wild strain of melody from the treetop.

"And just think," said Jewel presently, in a soft, awestruck tone, "that
some people wear birds sewed on their hats, just as if they were glad
something was dead!"

"It _is_ weird," agreed Eloise. "I never liked it. Jewel, did Dr.
Ballard blame you because I am interested in Christian Science?"

"He said he wished I wouldn't talk to you and go to church and
everything."

The girl bit a blade of grass and eyed the child's serious face.

"Well, what are you going to do about it?"

"I asked God to show me. I wish Dr. Ballard would study with you."

"That is impossible. He has spent years learning his science, and he
loves it and is proud of it; so what next?"

"Very queer things happen sometimes," rejoined Jewel doubtfully.

"But not so queer as that would be," returned Eloise.

Jewel was pondering. This was very delicate ground, and she still felt
some awe of her cousin; however, there was only one thing to consider.

"Do you love him better than anybody, cousin Eloise?" she asked.

A flood of color warmed the girl's face, but she had to smile.

"Would that make the difference?" she asked. "Mustn't we want the truth
anyway?"

Jewel heaved a mighty sigh. She was thinking of Dr. Ballard's pensive
eyes. "I should _think_ so," she answered frankly; "because if you just
study the truth, and hold on tight, how can things be anything but
happy at last? I wish I was more grown up, cousin Eloise," she added
apologetically.

"Oh no, no," answered the girl, with a little catch in her throat. "I've
had so much of grown-up people, Jewel! I'm so grown up myself! Just
a little while ago I was a schoolgirl, busy and happy all the time. I
never even went out anywhere except with father, and with Nat when he
was at home from college. You don't know Nat, but you'd like him."

"Why! Is he a Christian Scientist?"

For answer Eloise laughed low but heartily. "Nat a Christian Scientist!"
she mused aloud. "Not exactly, my little cousin!"

"Then should I like him as well as Dr. Ballard?" asked Jewel
incredulously.

"I don't know. Tastes differ."

"Does he like horses?" asked the child.

"He knows everything