ather's the greatest joker; he says the funniest things. He didn't
blow me to it at all. He took me in the cable car, and we had more
_fun_! It was the most be--eautiful place you ever saw."

"It was, eh?"

"Yes. The music was playing, and there were coaches and four-in-hands
and horns and men in red coats and beautiful little shiny carriages--and
the horses! Oh, they all looked so proud and glad, and they trotted and
ran and jumped over high fences, and the harness jingled and the people
cheered!" The child's cheeks were glowing.

Mr. Evringham gave an exclamation that was almost a laugh. "You didn't
sleep much that night, I'll wager!"

"No, I didn't want to. I stayed awake a long time to realize that God
doesn't love one of His children any better than another, so of course
some time I'll wear a tall shiny hat and ride over fences just like
flying. I'll have a horse," Jewel added slowly, looking off with a rapt
expression as at a long-cherished vision, "with a white star in his
forehead!"

"H'm! Very good taste," returned Mr. Evringham, scarcely knowing what he
was saying, so dazed was he by the extraordinary mixture of ideas.

After breakfast he had his usual interview with Mrs. Forbes concerning
the important event of dinner. Jewel had run upstairs to dress Anna
Belle.

The menu decided upon, Mr. Evringham still lingered.

"Mrs. Forbes, I have never had any experience with little girls. You
have, no doubt," he said. "Am I right in thinking that my granddaughter
is--is a rather unusual specimen?"

"She's older than Dick's hatband, sir," rejoined the housekeeper
promptly.

"Are they, perhaps, teaching differently in the schools from what they
used to?"

"Not that I know of, Mr. Evringham."

"She uses very unusual expressions. I can't make it out. You are an
intelligent woman, Mrs. Forbes. Did you ever happen to hear of such a
thing as the--a--a--Scientific Statement of Being!"

"Never in my life, sir," returned the housekeeper virtuously.

"Extraordinary language that, from a--a child of her years. She seems
to have been peculiarly brought up. You heard her reference to--in fact
to--the Creator."

"I did, sir. At the breakfast table, too! I was as shocked as you were,
sir. Her mother put a Bible into her trunk, but it's plain she never
taught her any reverence. The Almighty give her a jumping horse indeed!
If you'll excuse me, Mr. Evringham, I think you should have said
something right there."

T