ht face sobered. "Poor mother! She had a--a shock after
you were here yesterday. I suppose it put everything out of her head.
Was it she who sent you to find us?"

"No; a massive lady met me at the door and informed me that your mother
wished to be excused from every one to-day, but that you had fallen down
a crack in the earth which could be reached up this road." The speaker
looked about. "As there doesn't seem any place to stand here, hadn't we
better sit down before we fall in the brook? I might rescue you, but the
current is swift."

Eloise at once sank upon the green incline, and he followed her example.
Jewel watched him with consideration, and he became aware of her gaze.

"What are you making, little girl?" he asked, with his sunshiny smile.

"A garden; and I could dig the pond if I had brought the trowel."

"Perhaps my knife will do." He took it out and opened the largest blade.
"What do you think of that?"

"Do you suppose I should break it?" asked the child doubtfully.

"You're welcome to try," he replied.

She leaned forward and accepted it from his outstretched hand.

CHAPTER XXV

MUTUAL SURPRISES

"I thought I knew Bel-Air Park," said Bonnell looking about him. "I
never suspected this."

"Jewel is the Columbus of this spot. She has named it the Ravine of
Happiness."

Nat looked at his speaker. "That's rather ambiguous. Does she mean where
happiness is buried or where it is found?"

Eloise smiled. "Jewel never buries any happiness. Well, how is
everybody, Nat? Your mother, first of all."

"Didn't Mrs. Evringham tell you?"

The girl's face clouded with apprehension at his surprised tone.
"No. You will think it very strange, but poor mamma was under such
excitement, you must pardon her. Everything went out of her head. Don't
tell me that dear Mrs. Bonnell"--she lowered her voice--"that you have
lost her!"

He shook his head. "No, I've gained her. She's well."

"Well!" repeated the girl amazed. "Why, what do you mean? How glorious!
How long since?"

"About three months."

"I am so glad! Tell me more good news. Tell me about your own frivoling,
and then I shall hear about the other people."

The young man shook his head. "I observed Lent this year scrupulously,
and I haven't changed my tactics since Easter. I've been keeping my nose
to the grindstone. Began to see things a little differently, Eloise. I
decided it was mother's innings--decided to drop the butterfly and do
the bee