" cried the child, her feet pattering on the thick carpet as
she flew down one flight and then passed the housekeeper on the next.
"Perhaps he is coming out early to ride."

"Nothing would surprise me less," remarked Mrs. Forbes dryly as she
mounted.

Jewel flitted to the telephone and picked up the receiver.

"Hello, grandpa, are you coming out?" she asked.

"No, I thought perhaps you would like to come in."

"In where? Into New York?"

"Yes."

"What are we going to do?" eagerly.

Mr. Evringham, sitting at the desk in his private office, his head resting
on his hand, moved and smiled. His mind pictured the expression on the face
addressing him quite as distinctly as if no miles divided them.

"Well, we'll have dinner, for one thing. Where shall it be? At the
Waldorf?"

Jewel had never heard the word.

"Do they have Nesselrode pudding?" she asked, with keen interest. Mrs.
Forbes had taken her in town one day and given her some at a restaurant.

"Perhaps so. You see I've heard from the Steamship Company, and they think
that the boat will get in this evening."

"Oh, grandpa! grandpa! _grandpa!_"

"Softly, softly. Don't break the 'phone. I hear you through the window."

"When shall I come? Oh, oh, oh!"

"Wait, Jewel. Don't be excited. Listen. Tell Zeke to bring you in to my
office on the three o'clock train."

"Yes, grandpa. Oh, please wait a minute. Do you think it would be too
extravagant for me to wear my silk dress?"

"No, let's be reckless and go the whole figure."

"All right," tremulously.

"Good-by."

"Oh, grandpa, wait. Can I bring Anna Belle?" but only silence remained.

Jewel hung up the receiver with a hand that was unsteady, and then ran
through the house and out of doors, leaving every door open behind her in a
manner which would have brought reproof from Mrs. Forbes, who had begun to
be Argus-eyed for flies.

Racing out to the barn, she appeared to 'Zekiel in the harness room like a
small whirlwind.

"Get on your best things, Zeke," she cried, hopping up and down; "my father
and mother are coming."

"Is this an india rubber girl?" inquired the coachman, pausing to look at
her with a smile. "What train?"

"Three o'clock. You're going with me to New York. Grandpa says so; to his
office, and the boat's coming to-night. Get ready quick, Zeke, please. I'm
going to wear my silk dress."

"Hold on, kid," for she was flying off. "I'm to go in town with you, am I?
Are you sure? I do