Jewel | Page 9

enough to bear already."
"A deal of company in the house as it is, eh?" he rejoined. It was the
first reference he had ever made to his permanent guests.
"It's what I was thinking, sir."
"You're not for it, then, Mrs. Forbes?"
"So far as taking care of the child goes, I should do my duty. I don't
think Mrs. Evringham or her daughter would wish to be bothered; but I
know very little about children, except that your house is no place for
them to be racing in. One young one brings others. You would be
annoyed, sir. Some folks can always ask favors." The housekeeper's
cheeks were flushed with the strength of her repugnance, and her bias
relieved Mr. Evringham's indecision.
"I agree with you," he returned, rising. "Tell 'Zekiel to saddle the Maid.
After dinner I will let him take a telegram to the office."
He returned to the house without further words, and Mrs. Forbes called
to her son in a voice that had a wrathful quaver.
"What you got your back up about?" inquired Zeke softly, after a
careful look to see that his august master had departed.

"Never you mind. Mr. Evringham wants you should saddle his horse
and bring her round. I want he should see you can do it lively."
"Ain't she a beaut'!" exclaimed Zeke as he led out the mare. "She'd
ought to be shown, she had."
"Shown! Better not expose your ignorance where Mr. Evringham can
hear you. That mare's taken two blue ribbons already."
"Showed they knew their business," returned Zeke imperturbably. "I
s'pose the old gent don't care any more for her than he does for his life."
"I guess he loves her the best of anything in this world."
"Love! The governor love anything or anybody! That's good,"
remarked the young fellow, while Essex Maid watched his movements
about her with gentle, curious eyes.
"I do believe she misses Fanshaw and notices the difference," remarked
Mrs. Forbes.
"Glad to, too. Ain't you, my beauty? She's going to be stuck on me
before we get through. She don't want any Britishers fooling around
her."
"You've certainly made her look fine, Zeke. I know Mr. Evringham
will be pleased. She just shines from her pretty little ears to her hoofs.
Take her around and then come back. I want to talk to you."
"If I don't come back," returned the boy, "you'll know the governor's
looked at me a little too hard and I've been struck so."
"Don't be any foolisher than you can help," returned Mrs. Forbes, "and
hurry."
On 'Zekiel's return to the barn he saw that his mother's face was
portentous. "Lawrence was at least handsome like his father," she
began without preamble, looking over Zeke's shoulder, "but Harry was
as homely as he was no account. I should think that man had enough of

his sons' belongings hanging on him already. What do you think,
'Zekiel Forbes? Mr. Evringham's youngest son Harry has turned up
again!"
"I should think it was the old Harry by your tone," rejoined Zeke
equably.
"He and his wife, poor as church mice, are getting their expenses paid
to Europe on business, and they have the nerve--yes, the cheek--to ask
Mr. Evringham to let them leave their young one, a girl eight years old,
with him while they're gone."
"I hope it's a real courageous youngster," remarked Zeke.
"A child! A wild Western dressmaker's young one in Mr. Evringham's
elegant house!"
"Is the old Harry a dressmaker?" asked Zeke mildly.
"No, his wife is. His Julia! They've named this girl for her, and I
suppose they called her Jule, and then twisted it around to Jewel.
Jewel!"
"When is she coming?" asked Zeke, seeing that he was expected to say
something.
"Coming? She isn't coming," cried his mother irefully. "Not while Mr.
Evringham has his wits. They haven't a particle of right to ask him.
Harry has worried him to distraction already. The child would be sure
to torment him."
"He'd devour her the second day, then," returned Zeke calmly. "It
would be soon over."
CHAPTER III
MOTHER AND DAUGHTER

Dr. Ballard had gone, and his hostesses were awaiting the summons to
dinner. Mrs. Evringham regarded her daughter critically as the girl sat
at the piano, idly running her fingers over the keys.
The listlessness expressed in the fresh face and rounded figure brought
a look of disapproval into the mother's eyes.
"You must practice that nocturne," she said. "You played it badly just
now, and there is no excuse for it, Eloise."
"If you will let me give lessons I will," responded the girl promptly,
without turning her graceful, drooping head.
The unexpected reply was startling.
"What are you talking about?" asked Mrs. Evringham.
"Oh, I'm so tired of it