r, and Mrs. Forbes
for once sympathized with the widow's sentiments.

Aunt Madge took off her eyeglasses in a way she had when she wished to
be particularly impressive.

"Jewel," she said, "I don't think any one has told you that it is
impolite to Dr. Ballard to say anything about Christian Science in his
presence."

"Why is it?" asked the child.

"Because he is a learned physician, and has, of course, a great respect
for his profession."

"I have a great respect for him," returned the child, "and he knows I
wouldn't hurt his feelings."

"The idea!" exclaimed Mrs. Evringham, looking down from a height upon
the flaxen head. "As if a little ignorant girl could hurt the feelings
of a man like Dr. Ballard!"

Mrs. Forbes also stared at the child, and she winced.

"I do love them, and they do love me," she thought. "I don't remember
ever speaking about it before the doctor unless somebody asked me," she
said aloud.

"Your cousin Eloise may ask you," returned Mrs. Evringham. "Nobody else
would. She does it in a spirit of mischief, perhaps, but I shall speak
to her. She has a passing curiosity about your ideas because it is odd
and rather amusing to find a child who has such unnatural and precocious
fancies, and she tries to draw you out; but it will not last with her.
Neither will it with you, probably. You seem to be a sensible little
girl in many ways." Mrs. Evringham made the addition magnanimously. She
really was too much at peace with all the world just now to like to be
severe.

Outwardly Jewel was silent. Inwardly she was declaring many things which
would have surprised her companions.

"Does your cousin Eloise pretend to you that she is becoming seriously
interested in your faith?" pursued Mrs. Evringham.

"She will tell you all about it," returned Jewel.

Aunt Madge shrugged her shoulders and laughed a little. Her thoughts
reverted to her daughter's trip to the city. She had wondered
several times if it had any pleasant connection with her sudden good
understanding with Mr. Evringham.

To Jewel's relief her thoughts remained preoccupied during the remainder
of the meal; and as soon as the child could leave, she flew to the
closet under the stairs, where Anna Belle often went into retreat during
the luncheon hour, and from thence back to the garden she was making by
the brookside.

When she returned to the house her eyes lighted as she saw two horses
before the piazza, and Dr. Ballard standing besi