turned decidedly; "and if Dr. Ballard were not the
broad, noble type of man that he is, he wouldn't take the trouble to
notice and entertain a child who has treated him as she has. It might
touch even you to see the lengths to which he goes to please you. I hope
you will at least have the grace to go down with Jewel to the buggy and
see them off."

"I couldn't in this wrapper," replied Eloise, releasing the speaker.

"Of course not, so put on a dress before you go up to Jewel."

"It's too late, dear. He'll be here by half-past ten. I must have her
ready."

Mrs. Evringham looked after her daughter's retreating figure, and then
her lips came together firmly. She untied the ribbons of the loose gown
of lace and silk, in which she had keyed herself up by degrees to face
the requirements of luncheon and the afternoon's diversions, and donned
a conventional dress, in which she composed herself by the window to
watch for the doctor's buggy. There was a vista in the park avenue which
afforded a fair look at equipages three minutes before they could reach
Mr. Evringham's gateway.

From the moment the doctor's office hour was over this stanch supporter
set herself to watch that gap. As soon as she saw Hector's dappled coat
and easy stride she sprang up and went downstairs, and when the shining
buggy paused at the steps and Dr. Ballard jumped out, she appeared on
the piazza to greet him.

"What an inspiring morning!" she said, as he removed his hat. "That
insane girl!" she thought. "If he had chanced to be awkward and plain,
he would have been just as important to us. His good looks are thrown
in, and yet she won't behave herself."

"Glorious indeed!" he replied heartily. "Where's my young lady?"

Mrs. Evringham had plenty of worldly experience, and not even her
enemies called her stupid, but at this moment there was but one young
lady in the world to her, as she believed there was to him.

"She is upstairs braiding Jewel's hair," she replied before she realized
her own insanity. Then she hastened on, coloring under the odd look in
his eyes, "But you mean Jewel, of course. She will be down at once, I'm
sure. It's so kind of you to take her."

"Not at all. She's an original worth cultivating."

Mrs. Evringham shrugged her shoulders. "I suppose she must be, since you
all say so. Eloise gives up a surprising amount of time to her, but I
can't judge much from that, because Eloise is so unselfish. For my part,
the child's