peace lay only in
the direction upon which she had set her heart.

Mr. Evringham took coffee with them after dinner in the drawing-room,
while Jewel caressed her watch, never tiring of looking at its clear
face and the little second hand which traveled so steadily its tiny
circuit.

Mrs. Evringham looked often toward the door, expectant of the doctor's
entrance. The evening wore on and he did not come. Still Eloise's face
wore the placid, restful expression. A gentle ease with her grandfather
replaced her old manner.

Her mother determined to try an experiment.

"You could never guess who called to-day, Eloise," she said suddenly.

Her daughter looked up from her coffee. "No. Who was it?"

"Nat Bonnell."

"Really!" The girl's tone indicated great surprise, and that only. "I
wish I might have seen him."

The addition was made so calmly, almost perfunctorily, that Mrs.
Evringham smiled with exultation.

She turned to her father-in-law. "Who would believe that Mr. Bonnell
was Eloise's brightest flame a year ago? 'How soon are we forgot!'" she
said lightly.

When Jewel had kissed them all good-night and gone upstairs, and Mr.
Evringham had withdrawn to his library, Mrs. Evringham took her child's
hand and looked fondly into her eyes.

"Well?" she asked.

"Well," returned Eloise, "do tell me everything Nat said."

"After you've told me everything Dr. Ballard said. I supposed you'd fly
to tell me, dear."

The girl looked tenderly back into the eyes that were sharp with
inquiry. "Dear little mother," she returned, "it can't be."

"What can't be?"

"What you wish. Dr. Ballard."

"Have you--refused him--!" Mrs. Evringham's face whitened, and
unconsciously she stepped back.

"It didn't have to come to that. Dr. Ballard is so fine--such a wise man
in so many ways. I do admire him so much."

"What did you say to him? I will know!" exclaimed Mrs. Evringham
passionately.

Eloise was mute, and her eyes besought her mother.

"Speak, I say! Was it Christian Science? Did you dare, Eloise Evringham,
did you _dare_ spoil your life--my life--our future, by scaring Dr.
Ballard with that bugbear?" The angry woman was breathing fast.

"Mother dear, don't give us something so painful to remember. Don't, I
beg of you. Dr. Ballard does not reproach me. He thinks I shall change,
and he wishes to give me time to see if I do. Think of him, if you will
not think of me. He would be so shocked to have you take it this way.