第30章 THE RAVINE(3)

"Wasn't father quite agreeable this evening?"asked Mrs.Evringham of Eloise."What did I tell you?I could see that he felt relief because that plain little creature was not in evidence.Father always was so fastidious.Of course it is selfish in a way,but it is no use to blame men for caring for beauty.They will do it.""It was a shame to make that little girl stay upstairs,"returned Eloise."I judge she managed to amuse herself this afternoon,and so she gets punished for it.I should like to go up and sit with her.""It would not be worth while,"returned Mrs.Evringham quickly."I'm sure Dr.Ballard will be here soon.You would have to come right down again.""That is not the reason I don't go,"returned the girl."It is because I am not an Evringham,and I have determined not to arrive at friendly relations with any one of the name.When I once escape from here,they will have seen the last of me.""The way of escape lies open,"returned her mother soothingly."I'm glad you have on that gown.If a man cares for a woman,he always loves to see her in white."As soon as dinner was over,Mrs.Forbes ascended the stairs to see her prisoner.Jewel was lying quietly in bed,the tray,apparently untouched,beside her.The latter circumstance Mrs.Forbes observed at once.

"Why haven't you eaten your dinner,Julia?"she asked."I hope you are not sulking.""No'm.I don't believe I am.I don't know what that means.""You don't know what sulky means?"suspiciously."It is very naughty for a little girl to refuse to eat her dinner because she is angry at being punished for her own good.""Did you send me to bed because you loved me?"asked Jewel.Her cheeks were very red,but even the disconcerted housekeeper could see that she was not excited or angry.

"Everybody loves good little girls,"returned Mrs.Forbes."Now eat your dinner,Julia,so I can carry down the tray.""I did eat the bread.It was all I wanted.It was very nice."The polite addition made the housekeeper uncertain.While she paused Jewel added,"I wish I could see grandpa.""He's gone out on business.He won't be back until after you are asleep.And if you were thinking of complaining to him,Julia,I tell you it won't do any good.He will trust everything to me.""Do you think I would trouble grandpa?"returned the child.

The housekeeper looked at her in silent perplexity.The blue eyes were direct and innocent,but there was a heaviness about them that stirred Mrs.Forbes uncomfortably.

"You must have got too tired playing this afternoon,Julia,"she said decisively,"or you would be hungry for your dinner.You took that hot bath I told you to?""Yes'm."

"Where have you put your wet things?Oh,I see,you've spread them out very nicely;but those shoes--I shall have to have them cleaned and polished for you.Now go to sleep as quick as you can and have a long night's rest.I'm sure the next time you go out you won't be so careless."Jewel's eyes followed the speaker as she bustled about and at last took up the tray.

"Will you kiss me good-night,Mrs.Forbes?"asked the child.

The surprised housekeeper set down her burden,stooped over the bed and kissed her.

"There now,I see you're sorry,"she said,somewhat touched.

Jewel gave her a little smile."No'm,I've stopped being sorry,"she replied.

"She'd puzzle a Philadelphia lawyer,"soliloquized the housekeeper as she descended the stairs with the tray."I suppose her mother is uneducated and uses queer English.As the old ones croak,the young ones learn.The child uses words nobody ever heard of,and is ignorant of the commonest ones.I'm glad she's so fond of me if I've got to take care of her."