CHAPTER XIII
A HEROIC OFFER
Jewel told her grandfather the tale of The Talking Doll while they walkedtheir horses through a favorite wood-road, Mr. Evringham keeping his eyeson the animated face of the story-teller. His own was entirely impassive,but he threw in an exclamation now and then to prove his undividedattention.
"_You_ know it's more blessed to give than to receive, don't you, grandpa?"added Jewel affectionately, as she finished; "because you're giving thingsto people all the time, and nobody but God can give you anything."
"I don't know about that," returned the broker. "Have you forgotten theyellow chicken you gave me?"
"No," returned Jewel seriously; "but I've never seen anything since that Ithought you would care for."
Mr. Evringham nodded. "I think," he said confidentially, "that you havegiven me something pretty nice in your mother. Do you know, I'm very gladthat she married into our family."
"Yes, indeed," replied Jewel, "so am I. Just supposing I had had some othergrandpa!"
The two shook their heads at one another gravely. There were somesituations that could not be contemplated.
"Why do you suppose I can't find any turtles in my brook?" asked the child,after a short pause. "Mother says perhaps they like meadows better thanshady ravines."
"Perhaps they do; but," and the broker nodded knowingly, "there's anotherreason."
"Why, grandpa, why?" asked Jewel eagerly.
"Oh, Nature is such a neat housekeeper!"
"Why, turtles must be lovely and clean."
"Yes, I know; and if Summer would just let the brook alone you might find ababy turtle for Anna Belle."
"She'd love it. Her eyes nearly popped out when mother was telling aboutit."
"Well, there it is, you see. Now I'd be ashamed to have you see that brookin August, Jewel." Mr. Evringham slapped the pommel of his saddle toemphasize the depth of his feelings.
"Why, what happens?"
"Dry--as--a--bone!"
"It _is_?"
"Yes, indeed. We shan't have been long at the seashore when Summer willhave drained off every drop of water in that brook."
"What for?"
"House-cleaning, of course. I suppose she scrubs out and sweeps out the bedof that brook before she'll let a bit of water come in again."
"Well, she _is_ fussy," laughed Jewel. "Even Mrs. Forbes wouldn't do that."
"I ask you," pursued Mr. Evringham, "what would the turtles do while thewar was on?"
"Why, they couldn't live there, of course. Well, we won't be here while theravine is empty of the brook, will we, grandpa? I shouldn't like to seeit."
"No, we shall be where there's 'water, water everywhere.' Even Summer won'tattempt to houseclean the bottom of the sea."
Jewel thought a minute. "I wish she wouldn't do that," she said wistfully;"because turtles would be fun, wouldn't they, grandpa?"
Mr. Evringham regarded her quizzically. "I see what you want me to do," hereplied. "You want me to give up Wall Street and become the owner of amenagerie, so you can have every animal that was ever heard of."
Jewel smiled and shook her head. "I don't believe I do yet. We'll have towait till everybody loves to be good."
"What has that to do with it?"
"Then the lions and tigers will be pleasant."
"Will they, indeed?" Mr. Evringham laughed. "All those good people won'tshut them up in cages then, I fancy."
"No, I don't believe they will," replied Jewel.
"But about those turtles," continued her grandfather. "How would you likeit next spring for me to get some for you for the brook?"
Jewel's eyes sparkled. "Wouldn't that be the most _fun_?" shereturned,--"but then there's summer again," she added, sobering.
"What's the reason that we couldn't drive with them to the nearest riverbefore the brook ran dry?"
"Perhaps we could," replied Jewel hopefully "Doesn't mother tell the_nicest_ stories, grandpa?"
"She certainly does; and some of the most wonderful you don't hear at all.She tells them to me after you have gone to bed."
"Then you ought to tell them to me," answered Jewel, "just the way I tellmine to you."
Mr. Evringham shook his head. "They probably wouldn't make you open youreyes as wide as I do mine; you're used to them. They're Christian Sciencestories. Your mother has been treating my rheumatism, Jewel. What do youthink of that?"
"Oh, I'm glad," replied the child heartily, "because then you've asked herto."
"How do you know I have?"
"Because she wouldn't treat you if you hadn't, and mother says when peopleare willing to ask for it, then that's the beginning of everything good forthem. You know, grandpa," Jewel leaned toward him lovingly and addedsoftly, "you know even _you_ have to meet mortal mind."
"I shouldn't wonder," responded the broker dryly.
"And it's so proud, and hates to give up so," said Jewel.
"I'm an old dog," returned Mr. Evringham. "Teaching me new tricks is goingto be no joke, but your mother undertakes it cheerfully. I'm reading thatbook, 'Science and Health;' and she says I may have to read it throughthree times before I get the hang of it."
"I don't believe you will, grandpa, because it's just as _plain_," said thechild.
"You'll help me, Jewel?"
"Yes, indeed I will;" the little girl's face was radiant. "And won't Mr.Reeves be glad to see you coming to church with us?"
"I don't know whether I shall ever make Mr. Reeves glad in that way or not.I'm doing this to try to understand something of what you and your motherare so sure of, and what has made a man of your father. More than that, ifthere is any eternity for us, I propose to stick to you through it, and itmay be more convenient to study here than off in some dim no-man's-land inthe hereafter. If I remain ignorant, who can tell but the Power that Iswill whisk you away from me by and by."
Jewel gathered the speaker's meaning very well, and now she smiled at himwith the look he loved best; all her heart in her eyes. "He wouldn't. Godisn't anybody to be afraid of," she said.
"Why, it tells us all through the Bible to fear God."
"Yes, of course it tells us to fear to trouble the One who loves us thebest of all. Just think how even you and I would fear to hurt one another,and God is keeping us _alive_ with _his_ love!"
Half an hour afterward their horses cantered up the drive toward the house.Mrs. Evringham was seated on the piazza, sewing. Her husband had sent thesummer wardrobe promptly, and she wore now a thin blue gown that lookedcharmingly comfortable.
"Genuine!" thought her father-in-law, as he came up the steps and met asmiling welcome from her clear eyes. He liked the simple manner in whichshe dressed her hair. He liked her complexion, and carriage, and voice.
"I don't know but that you have the better part here on the piazza, it isso warm," he said, "but I have been thinking of you rather remorsefullythis afternoon, Julia. These excursions of Jewel's and mine are growing toseem rather selfish. Have you ever learned to ride?"
"Never, and I don't wish to. Please believe how supremely content I am."
"My carriages are small. It is so long since I've had a family. When wereturn I shall get one that will hold us all."
"Oh, yes, grandpa," cried Jewel enthusiastically. "You and I on the frontseat, driving, and mother and father on the back seat."
"Well, we have more than two months to decide how we shall sit. I fancy itwill oftener be your father and mother in the phaeton and you and I on ournoble steeds, eh, Jewel?"
"Yes, I think so, too," she returned seriously.
Mr. Evringham smiled slightly at his daughter. "The occasions when wediffer are not numerous enough to mention," he remarked.
"I hope it may always be so," she replied, going on with her work.
"This looks like moving," observed the broker, wiping his forehead with hispocket-handkerchief and looking about on the still, green scene. "I thinkwe had better plan to go to the shore next week."
Julia
smiled and sighed. "Very well, but any change seems as if it might befor the worse," she said.
"Then you've never tried summer in New Jersey," he responded. "I hear youare a great story-teller, Julia. If I should wear some large bows behind myears, couldn't I come to some of these readings?"
As no laugh from Jewel greeted this sally, he looked down at her. She wasgazing off wistfully.
"What is it, Jewel?" he asked.
"I was wondering if it wouldn't seem a long time to Essex Maid and Starwithout us!"
"Dear me, dear me, how little you do know those horses!" and the brokershook his head.
"Why, grandpa? Will they like it?"
"Do you suppose for one minute that you could make them stay at home?"
"Are they going with us, grandpa?" Jewel began to hop joyfully, but herhabit interfered.
"Certainly. They naturally want to see what sort of bits and bridles arebeing worn at the seashore this year."
"Do you realize what unfashionable people you are proposing to take,yourself, father?" asked Julia. She was visited by daily doubts in thisregard.
The broker returned her glance gravely. "Have you ever seen Jewel's silkdress?" he asked.
The child beamed at him. "She _made_ it!" she announced triumphantly.
"Then you must know," said Mr. Evringham, "that it would save any socialsituation."
Julia laughed over her sewing. "My machine came to-day," she said. "I meantto make something a little fine, but if we go in a few days"--
"Don't think of it," replied the host hastily. "You are both all right. Idon't want you to see a needle. I'm sorry you are at it now."
"But I like it. I really do."
"I'm going to take you to the coolest place on Long Island, but not to themost fashionable."
"That is good news," returned Julia, "Run along, Jewel, and dress fordinner."
"In one minute," put in Mr. Evringham. "She and I wish your opinion ofsomething first."
He disappeared for a moment into the house and came back with a flatpackage which Jewel watched with curious eyes while he untied the string.
Silently he placed a photograph in his daughter's lap while the childleaned eagerly beside her.
"Why, why, how good!" exclaimed Mrs. Evringham, and Jewel's eyes glistened.
"Isn't grandpa's nose just splendid!" she said fervently.
"Why, father, this picture will be a treasure," went on Julia. Color hadrisen in her face.
The photograph showed Jewel standing beside her grandfather seated, and herarm was about his neck. It was such a natural attitude that she had takenit while waiting for the photographer to be ready. The daisy-wreathed hathung from her hand, and she had not known when the picture was taken. Itwas remarkably lifelike, and the broker regarded it with a satisfactionnone the less keen because he let the others do all the talking.
"And now we don't need it, grandpa," said the child.
"Oh, indeed we do!" exclaimed the mother; and Jewel, catching hergrandfather's eyes, lifted her shoulders. What did her mother know oftheir secret!
Mr. Evringham smoothed his mustache. "No harm to have it, Jewel," hereplied, nodding at her. "No harm; a very good plan, in fact; for Isuppose, even to oblige me, you can't refrain from growing up. And next wemust get Star's picture, with you on his back."
"But you weren't on Essex Maid's," objected Jewel.
"We'll have it taken both ways, then. It's best always to be on the safeside."
From this day on there was no more chance for Jewel to hear a tale in theStory Book, until the move to the seashore was accomplished, for hotweather had evidently come to stay in Bel-Air Park. Mrs. Evringham feltloath to leave its green, still loveliness and her large shady rooms; butthe New Jerseyite's heat panic had seized upon her father-in-law, and hepushed forward the preparations for flight.
"I can't pity you for remaining here," Julia said to Mrs. Forbes on themorning of departure.
"No, ma'am, you don't need to," returned the housekeeper. "Zeke and I aregoing off on trips, and we, calculate to have a pretty good time of it.I've been wanting to speak to you, Mrs. Evringham, about a businessmatter," continued Mrs. Forbes, her manner indicating that she hadconstrained herself to make an effort. "Mr. Evringham tells me you and Mr.Harry are to make your home with him. It's a good plan," emphatically, "asright as right can be; for what he would do without Jewel isn't easy tothink of; but it's given me a lot to consider. I won't be necessary hereany more," the housekeeper tried to conceal what the statement cost her.She endeavored to continue, but could not, and Julia saw that she did nottrust her voice.
"Mr. Evringham has not said that, I am sure," she returned.
"No, and he never would; but that shouldn't prevent my doing right. You cantake care of him and his house now, and I wanted to tell you that I seethat, plainly, and am willing to go when you all come back. I shall haveplenty of time this summer to turn around and make my plans. There'splenty of work in this world for willing hands to do, and I'm a long wayoff from being worn out yet."
"I'm so glad you spoke about this before we left," replied Mrs. Evringham,smiling on the brave woman. "Father has said nothing to me about it, and Iam certain he would as soon dispense with one of the supports of the houseas with you. We all want to be busy at something, and I have a glimmeringidea of what my work is to be; and I think it is not housekeeping. I shouldbe glad to have our coming disturb father's habits as little as possible,and certainly neither you or I should be the first to speak of any change."
Mrs. Forbes bit her lip. "Well," she returned, "you see I knew it wouldcome hard on him to ask me to go, and I wanted you both to know that I'dsee it reasonably."
"It was good of you," said Julia; "and that is all we ever need to be sureof--just that we are willing to be led, and then, while we look to God,everything will come right." The housekeeper drank in the sweet expressionof the speaker's eyes, and smiled, a bit unsteadily. "Of course I'd ratherstay," she replied. "Transplanting folks is as hard and risky as trees. Youcan't ever be sure they'll flourish in the new ground; but I want to doright. I've been reading some in Zeke's book, 'Science and Health,' andthere was one sentence just got hold of me:[1] 'Self-love is more opaquethan a solid body. In patient obedience to a patient God, let us labor todissolve with the universal solvent of Love the adamant oferror--self-will, self-justification, and self-love!' Jewel's helped me todissolve enough so I could face handing over the keys of this house to hermother. I'm not saying I could have offered them to everybody."
[Footnote 1: _S. and H._, page 242.]
Mrs. Evringham smiled. "Thank you. I hope it isn't your duty to give them,nor mine to take them. We'll leave all that to father. My idea is that hewould send us all back to Chicago rather than give you up--his right hand."
Mrs. Forbes's face relaxed, and she breathed more freely than for manydays. As she took her way out to the barn to report this conversation toZeke, her state of mind agreed with that of her employer when he declaredhis pleasure that Julia had married into the family.