rise.

Her father smoothed her hair. "No, time to go to sleep again. We're just
going to bed. Good-night, Jewel." He stooped to kiss her, and her arms
met around his neck.

"It was an April fool, wasn't it?" she murmured sleepily, and was
unconscious again.

The mother hid her face for a moment on her husband's shoulder. "Help
me to feel that we're doing right," she whispered, with a catch in her
breath.

"As if I could help _you_, Julia!" he returned humbly.

"Oh, yes, you can, dear." She withdrew from his embrace, and going to
the dresser, took down her hair. The smiling face of a doll looked up at
her from the neighboring chair, where it was sitting bolt upright. Her
costume was fresh from the modiste, and her feet, though hopelessly
pigeon-toed, were encased in bronze boots of a freshness which caught
the dim gaslight with a golden sheen.

Mrs. Evringham smiled through her moist eyes.

"Well, Jewel _was_ sleepy. She forgot to undress Anna Belle," she said.

Letting her hair fall about her like a veil, she caught up the doll and
pressed it to her heart impulsively. "You are going to stay with her,
Anna Belle! I envy you, I envy you!" she whispered. An irrepressible
tear fell on the sumptuous trimming of the little hat. "Be good to her;
comfort her, comfort her, little dolly." Hastily wiping her eyes, she
turned to her husband, still holding the doll. "We shall have to be very
careful, Harry, in the morning. If we are harboring one wrong or fearful
thought, we must not let Jewel know it."

"Oh, I wish it were over! I wish the next month were over!" he replied
restively.

CHAPTER V

BON VOYAGE

At the dock next morning the scene was one of the usual confusion. The
sailing time was drawing near and Mr. Evringham had not appeared.

Harry, with his little girl's hand in his, stood at the foot of the gang
plank, peering at every newcomer and growing more anxious every moment.
Jewel occupied herself in throwing kisses to her mother, who stood at
the rail far above, never taking her eyes from the little figure in the
blue sailor suit.

The child noted her father's set lips and the concentrated expression of
his eyes.

"If grandpa doesn't come what shall I do?" she asked without anxiety.

"You'll go to England," was the prompt response.

"Without my trunk!" returned the child in protest.

Her father looked again at the watch he held in his hand. The order to
go ashore was sending all visitors down