ngham with
relish. "Just wait until our gracious host realizes what he has let
himself in for. Oh, there's a good time coming, you may be sure. Hush,
don't waken her! It would be a blessed dispensation if she were always
to sleep while her grandfather is absent," and Mrs. Evringham led the
way into the house, her laces fluttering.

On the first landing the ladies met Mrs. Forbes, troubled of
countenance.

"I am looking for the child Julia," she said. "I can't think where she
can have disappeared."

"You've not far to seek," returned Mrs. Evringham airily. "She is asleep
on the piazza."

"Thank you." Mrs. Forbes hastened downstairs and out of doors. Glancing
about she quickly perceived the short legs stretched in a reclining
chair, and advanced toward the relaxed little figure.

"Julia, wake up!" she said, touching her.

The child stirred and opened her eyes. Her movement made the doll slip
to the floor, and this caused her to come to herself suddenly.

"Why, I fell asleep, didn't I?" she said drowsily, reaching for the
doll.

"Yes, and in Mr. Evringham's own chair!" responded Mrs. Forbes.

"They're all his, aren't they?" asked the child.

"Yes, but this is his special favorite, where he always lies to rest.
Remember!" returned Mrs. Forbes. "Come right upstairs now and change
your dress for dinner. He will be coming home in a few minutes."

"Oh, good!" exclaimed Jewel with satisfaction, and passed into the
house. Mrs. Forbes was following ponderously. "Oh, you don't need to
come with me," protested the child earnestly. "I can do it all myself."

"Are you sure?" doubtfully.

"Oh, ye--es!" replied the little girl, running lightly up the stairs.

"I ought to put her on the second floor," mused Mrs. Forbes, "if I've
got to be running up and down; but I suppose she has done for herself a
great deal. I suppose the mother hadn't time to be bothered. I'd like to
make Mamzell change rooms with her."

Jewel hummed a tune as she took off her sailor suit, performed her
ablutions, and then went to her closet to choose a frock for dinner. She
decided on a blue dress with white dots chiefly because she would
not have to change her hair ribbons. She had never herself tied those
voluminous bows.

At last she was ready and danced toward the door, but some novel
timidity made her hesitate and go back sedately to the chair by the
window. Mrs. Forbes's impressive figure seemed to loom up with an order
to her to wait the