fter dinner, and warn Jewel to be more careful
in future to conform to all Mrs. Forbes's rules; but the meal was
scarcely over when a friend called to get him to attend some business
meeting held that evening in the interests of the town, and he became
interested in his statements and went away with him.

"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