go up now and
braid her hair and read the lesson."

Mrs. Evringham regarded her daughter. "Young people are eager for
novelty, I know," she said, "and it would seem as if an interest in a
child was an innocent diversion for you at a time when you were growing
morbid, but I do think I'm the most unlucky woman in the world! To think
that the child should have to be a Christian Scientist, and that you
should take this perverse interest in her ideas just now. I haven't
spoken of your remarks about the horse last night, but it was in poor
taste, to say the least, to mention such nonsense before Dr. Ballard,
and apparently do it so seriously. I knew you had been helping Jewel
with lessons, but until last evening I didn't suspect that it might all
be on that odious subject. Is it, Eloise?"

"Yes, but it isn't odious. I like the fruit of it in her."

"You've never shown Dr. Ballard your most agreeable side, and now if
you're going to parade before him, an Episcopalian and a physician, an
interest in this--anarchism, I shan't blame him in the smallest degree
if he gives up all thought of you."

Eloise, the undemonstrative, put an arm around her mother. "Shan't you,
really?" she replied wistfully. "If I could only hope that."

"Do you want to give me nervous prostration?" rejoined Mrs. Evringham
sharply. "Eloise," her voice suddenly breaking, "do you love to torment
me?"

"Indeed I don't, poor mother, but I've been so tormented myself, and so
desirous not to--oh, not to do anything ignoble! I can't tell you all
I've endured since--" She paused, her lips unsteady.

"Since we lost your father," dismally. "Yes, I know it. I'm the most
unlucky woman in the world!"

Eloise's arm tightened about her mother as she went on, "Since I was
enchanted and thrown into Castle Discord." She looked off at the mental
picture of her cousin. "Mother," she turned back suddenly, "what a
wonderful thing it is if there really is a God."

"Why, Eloise Evringham, have you ever doubted it! That's positively
ill-bred!"

"But One that would be any good to us! Jewel's mother thinks she knows
such a One, and so does the child. I wish you'd look into this Christian
Science with me. You might find it better than getting grandfather to
pay our bills, better than marrying me to Dr. Ballard."

Mrs. Evringham raised her eyes to her deity. "What have I ever done,"
she ejaculated, "that I should have a queer child! Well, I will not
look into it," she re