CHAPTER III
HOME-COMING
Again Jewel and her grandfather stood on the wharf where the great boats,ploughing their way through the mighty seas, come finally, each into itsown place, as meekly as the horse seeks his stable.
The last time they stood here they were strangers watching the departure ofthose whom now they waited, hand in hand, to greet.
"Jewel, you made me eat too much dinner," remarked Mr. Evringham. "I feelas if my jacket was buttoned, in spite of the long drive we've taken since.I went to my tailor this morning, and what do you think he told me?"
"What? That you needed some new clothes?"
"Oh, he always tells me that. He told me that I was growing fat! There,young lady, what do you think of that?"
"I think you are, too, grandpa," returned the child, viewing himcritically.
"Well, you take it coolly. Supposing I should lose my waist, and all yourfault!"
Jewel drew in her chin and smiled at him.
"Supposing I go waddling about! Eh?"
She laughed. "But how would it be my fault?" she asked.
"Didn't you ever hear the saying 'laugh and grow fat'? How many times haveyou made me laugh since we left the office?"
Jewel began to tug on his hand as she jumped up and down. "Oh, grandpa, doyou think our pictures will be good?"
"I think yours will."
"Not yours?" the hopping ceased.
"Oh, yes, excellent, probably. I haven't had one taken in so many years,how can I tell? but here's one day that they can't get away from us, Jewel.This eighth of June has been a good day, hasn't it--and mind, you're not totell about the pictures until we see how they come out."
"Yes, haven't we had _fun_? The be-_eau_tiful hotel, and the drive in thepark, and the ride in the boats and"--
"Speaking of boats, there it is now. They're coming," remarked Mr.Evringham.
"Who?"
"Mr. and Mrs. Henry Thayer Evringham," returned the broker dryly. "Steady,Jewel, steady now. It will be quite a while before you see them."
The late twilight had faded and the June night begun, the wharf was dimlylighted and there was the usual crowd of customs officers, porters, and menand women waiting to see friends. All moved and changed like figures in akaleidoscope before Jewel's unwinking gaze; but the long minutes dragged byuntil at last her father and mother appeared among the passengers who camein procession down the steep incline from the boat.
Mr. Evringham drew back a step as father, mother, and child clung to eachother, kissing and murmuring with soft exclamations. Harry extricatedhimself first and shook hands with his father.
"Awfully good of you to get us the courtesy of the port," he said heartily.
"Don't mention it," returned the broker, and Julia released Jewel andturned upon Mr. Evringham her grateful face.
"But so many things are good of you," she said feelingly, as she held outher hand. "It will take us a long time to give thanks."
"Not at all, I assure you," responded the broker coldly, but his heart washot within him. "If they have the presumption to thank me for taking careof Jewel!" he was thinking as he dropped his daughter-in-law's hand.
"What a human iceberg!" she thought. "How has Jewel been able to take it socheerfully? Ah, the blessed, loving heart of a child!"
Meanwhile Mr. Evringham turned to his son and continued: "The courtesy ofthe port does shorten things up a bit, and I have a man from the customswaiting."
Harry followed him to see about the luggage, and Mrs. Evringham and Jewelsat down on a pile of boxes to wait. The mother's arm was around the littlegirl, and Jewel had one of the gloved hands in both her own.
"Oh," she exclaimed, suddenly starting up, "Mrs. Forbes thought I'd betterwear my sailor suit instead of this, and she told me not to sit down onanything dirty." She carefully turned up the skirt of her little frock andseated herself again on a very brief petticoat.
Mrs. Evringham smiled. "Mrs. Forbes is careful of you, isn't she?" sheasked. Her heart was in a tumult of happiness and also of curiosity as toher child's experiences in the last two months. Jewel's letters hadconveyed that she was content, and joy in her pony had been freelyexpressed. The mother's mental picture of the stiff, cold individual towhose doubtful mercies she had confided her child at such short notice hadbeen softened by the references to him in Jewel's letters; and it was witha shock of disappointment that she found herself repulsed now by the sameunyielding personality, the same cold-eyed, unsmiling, fastidiously dressedfigure, whose image had lingered in her memory. A dozen eager questionsrose to her lips, but she repressed them.
"Jewel must have had a glimpse of the real man," she thought. "I must notcloud her perception." It did not occur to her, however, that the childcould even now feel less than awe of the stern guardian with whom she hadsucceeded in living at peace, and who had, from time to time, bestowed uponher gifts. One of these Mrs. Evringham noticed now.
"Oh, that's your pretty watch!" she said.
"Yes," returned the child, "this is Little Faithful. Isn't he a darling?"
The mother smiled as she lifted the silver cherub. "You've named him?" shereturned. "Why, it is a beauty, Jewel. How kind of your grandfather!"
"Yes, indeed. It was so I wouldn't stay in the ravine too long."
"How is Anna Belle?"
"Dear Anna Belle!" exclaimed the little girl wistfully. "What a good timeshe would have had if I could have brought her! But you see I needed bothmy hands to help carry bags; and she understood about it and sent her love.She'll be sitting up waiting for you."
Mrs. Evringham cast a look toward Harry and his father. "I'm not sure"--shebegan, "I hardly think we shall go to Bel-Air to-night. How would you liketo stay in at the hotel with us, and then we could go out to the houseto-morrow and pack your trunk?"
Jewel looked very sober at this. "Why, it would be pretty hard to wait,mother," she replied. "Hotels are splendid. Grandpa and I had dinner atone. It's named the Waldorf and it has woods in it just like outdoors; butI thought you'd be in a hurry to see Star and the Ravine of Happiness andZeke."
"Well, we'll wait," returned Mrs. Evringham vaguely. She was more thandoubtful of an invitation to Bel-Air Park even for one night; but Harrymust arrange it. "We'll see what father says," she added. "What a prettylocket, my girlie!" As she spoke she lifted a gold heart that hung on aslender gold chain around Jewel's neck.
"Yes. Cousin Eloise gave me that when she went away. She has had it eversince she was as little as I am, and she said she left her heart with me.I'm so sorry you won't see cousin Eloise."
"So she and her mother have gone away. Were they sorry to go? Did Mr.Evringham--perhaps--think"--the speaker paused. She remembered Jewel'sletter about the situation.
"No, they weren't sorry. They've gone to the seashore; but cousin Eloiseand I love each other very much, and her room is so empty now that I've hadto keep remembering that you were coming and everything was happy. I guesscousin Eloise is the prettiest girl in the whole world; and since shestopped being sorry we've had the most _fun_."
"I wish I could see her!" returned Mrs. Evringham heartily. She longed tothank Eloise for supplying the sunshine of love to her child while thegrandfather was providing for her material wants. She looked at Jewel now,a picture of health and contentment, her bits of small finery in watch andlocket standing as symbols of the care and affection she had received.
"Divine Love has been so kind to us, dearie," she said softly, as shepressed the child closer to her. "He has brought father and mother backacross the ocean and has given you such loving friends while we were gone."
In a future day Mrs. Evringham was to learn something of the inner historyof the progress of this little pilgrim during her first days at Bel-Air;but the shadows had so entirely faded from Jewel's consciousness that shecould not have told it herself--not even such portions of it as she hadonce realized.
"Yes, indeed, I love Bel-Air and all the people. Even aunt Madge kissed mewhen she went away and s
aid 'Good-by, you queer little thing!'"
"What did she mean?" asked Mrs. Evringham.
"I don't know. I didn't tell grandpa, because I thought he might not likepeople calling me queer, but I asked Zeke."
"He's Mr. Evringham's coachman, isn't he?"
"Yes, and he's the nicest man, but he only told me that aunt Madge hadwheels. I asked him what kind of wheels, and he said he guessed they wererubber-tired, because she was always rubbering and she made people tired.You know Zeke is such a joker, so I haven't found out yet what aunt Madgemeant, and it isn't any matter because"--Jewel reached up and hugged hermother, "you've come home."
Here the two men approached. "No more time for spooning," said Harrycheerfully. "We're going now, little girls."
After all, there was nothing for Jewel to carry. Her father and grandfatherhad the dress-suit case and bags.
Mrs. Evringham looked inquiringly at her husband, but he was gayly talkingwith Jewel as the four walked out to the street.
Mr. Evringham led the way to a carriage that was standing there. "This isours," he said, opening the door.
Harry put the bags up beside the driver while his wife entered the vehicle,still in doubt as to their destination. Jewel jumped in beside her.
"You'd better move over, dear," said her mother quietly. "Let Mr. Evringhamride forward."
She was not surprised that Jewel was ignorant of carriage etiquette. It wasseldom that either of them had seen the inside of one.
The broker heard the suggestion. "_Place aux dames_," he said, briefly, andmoved the child back with one hand. Then he entered, Harry jumped in besidehim, slammed the door, and they rolled away.
"If Anna Belle was here the whole family would be together," said Jeweljoyously. "I don't care which one I sit by. I love everybody in thiscarriage!"
"You do, eh, rascal?" returned her father, putting his hand over in hersilken lap and giving her a little shake. "Where is the great and good AnnaBelle?"
"Waiting for us. Just think of it, all this time! Grandpa, are we goinghome with you?"
"What do you mean?" inquired the broker, and the tone of the curt questionchilled the spine of his daughter-in-law. "Were you thinking of spendingthe night in the ferry-house, perhaps?"
"Why, no, only mother said"--
Mrs. Evringham pressed the child's arm. "That was nothing, Jewel; I simplydidn't know what the plan was," she put in hastily.
"Oh, of course," went on the little girl. "Mother didn't know aunt Madgeand cousin Eloise were gone, and she didn't believe there'd be room. Shedoesn't know how big the house is, does she, grandpa?" An irresistible yawnseized the child, and in the middle of it her father leaned forward andchucked her under the chin.
Her jaws came together with a snap. "There! you spoiled that nice one!" sheexclaimed, jumping up and laughing as she flung herself upon her bigplaymate, and a small scuffle ensued in which the wide leghorn hat brimsawed against Mr. Evringham's shoulder and neck in a manner that causedMrs. Evringham's heart to leap toward her throat. How _could_ Harry be sothoughtless! A street lamp showed the grim lines of the broker's avertedface as he gazed stonily out to the street.
"Come here, Jewel; sit still," said the mother, striving to pull thelittle girl back into her seat.
Harry was laughing and holding his agile assailant off as best he might,and at his wife's voice aided her efforts with a gentle push. Jewel sankback on the cushion.
"Oh, what bores he thinks us. I know he does!" reflected Julia, capturingher child in one arm and holding her close. To her surprise and evendismay, Jewel spoke cheerfully after another yawn:--
"Grandpa, how far is it to the ferry? How long, I mean?"
"About fifteen minutes."
"Well, that's a good while. My eyes do feel as if they had sticks in them.Don't you wish we could cross in a swan boat, grandpa?"
"Humph!" he responded. Mrs. Evringham gave the child a little squeezeintended to be repressive. Jewel wriggled around a minute trying to get acomfortable position.
"Tell father and mother about Central Park and the swan boats, grandpa,"she continued.
"You tell them to-morrow, when you're not so sleepy," he replied.
Jewel took off her large hat, and nestling her head on her mother'sshoulder, put an arm around her. "Mother, mother!" she sighed happily, "areyou really home?"
"Really, really," replied Mrs. Evringham, with a responsive squeeze.
Mr. Evringham sat erect in silence, still gazing out the window with aforbidding expression.
There were buttons on her mother's gown that rubbed Jewel's cheek. Shetried to avoid them for a minute and then sat up. "Father, will you changeplaces with me?" she asked sleepily. "I want to sit by grandpa."
Mrs. Evringham's eyes widened, and in spite of her earnest "Dearie!" thetransfer was made and Jewel crept under Mr. Evringham's arm, which closednaturally around her. She leaned against him and shut her eyes.
"You mustn't go to sleep," he said.
"I guess I shall," returned the child softly.
"No, no. You mustn't. Think of the lights crossing the ferry. You'll lose alot if you're asleep. They're fine to see. We can't carry you and theluggage, too. Brace up, now--Come, come! I shouldn't think you were anyolder than Anna Belle."
Jewel laughed sleepily, and the broker held her hand in his while he pushedher upright. Mr. and Mrs. Evringham looked on, the latter marveling at thechild's nonchalance.
Now, for the first time, the host became talkative.
"How many days have you to give us, Harry?" he asked.
"A couple, perhaps," replied the young man.
"Two days, father!" exclaimed Jewel, in dismay, wide awake in an instant.
"Oh, that's a stingy visit," remarked Mr. Evringham.
"Not half long enough," added Jewel. "There's so much for you to see."
"Oh, we can see a lot in two days," returned Harry. "Think of the littlegirls in Chicago, Jewel. They won't forgive me if I don't bring you homepretty soon." He leaned forward and took his child's free hand. "How doyou suppose father has got along without his little girl all these weeks,eh, baby?"
"It _is_ a long time since you went away," she returned, "but I was rightin your room every night, and daytimes I played in your ravine. Bel-AirPark is the beautifulest place in the whole world. Two days isn't any timeto stay there, father."
"H'm, I'm glad you've been so happy." Sincere feeling vibrated in thespeaker's voice. "We don't know how to thank your grandpa, do we?"
A street lamp showed Jewel, as she turned and smiled up into the impassiveface Mr. Evringham turned upon her.
"You can safely leave that to her," said the broker briefly, but he did notremove his eyes from the upturned ones.
"It is beyond me," thought Mrs. Evringham; "but love is a miracle-worker."
The glowing lights of the ferry passed, Jewel did go to sleep in the train.Her father, unaware that he was trespassing, took her in his arms, and,tired out with all the excitement of the day and the lateness of the hour,the child instantly became unconscious; but by the time they reached home,the bustle of arrival and her interest in showing her parents about, aidedher in waking to the situation.
Mrs. Forbes stood ready to welcome the party. Ten years had passed sinceHarry Evringham had stood in the home of his boyhood, and the housekeeperthought she perceived that he was moved by a contrite memory; but he spokewith bluff heartiness as he shook hands with her; and Mrs. Forbes lookedwith eager curiosity into the sweet face of Mrs. Evringham, as the lattergreeted her and said something grateful concerning the housekeeper'skindness to Jewel.
"It's very little you have to thank me for, ma'am," replied Mrs. Forbes,charmed at once by the soft gaze of the dark eyes.
The little cavalcade moved upstairs to the handsome rooms so latelyvacated. They were brilliant with light and fragrant with roses.
"How beautiful!" exclaimed Mrs. Evringham, while Jewel hopped up and down,as wide awake as any little girl in town, delighted with the gal
aappearance of everything.
Mr. Evringham looked critically into the face of his daughter-in-law. Herewas the woman to whom he owed Jewel, and all that she was and all that shehad taught him. Her face was what he might have expected. It looked verycharming now as the pretty eyes met his. She was well-dressed, too, and Mr.Evringham liked that.
"I hope you will be very much at home here, Julia," he said; and though hedid not smile, it was certain that, whether from a sense of duty or not, hehad taken pains to make their welcome a pleasant one.
Jewel had, evidently, no slightest fear of his cold reserve. With thechild's hand in hers, Julia took courage to reply warmly: "Thank you,father, it is a joy to be here."
She had called him "father," this elegant stranger, and her heart beat alittle faster, but her husband's arm went around her.
"America's all right, eh, Julia?"
"Come in cousin Eloise's room," cried Jewel. "That's all lighted, too. Arethey going to have them both, grandpa?"
She danced ahead, through a spacious white-tiled bathroom and into theadjoining apartment. There an unexpected sight met the child's eyes. In therosy depths of a large chintz chair sat Anna Belle, loyally keeping hereyes open in spite of the hour.
Jewel rushed toward her. There were plenty of flowers scattered about inthis room, also, and the child suddenly caught sight of her own toiletarticles on the dresser.
"My things are down here in cousin Eloise's room, grandpa!" she cried, sosurprised that she delayed picking up her doll.
"Why, why!" said Mr. Evringham, throwing open the door of the large closetand then opening a bureau drawer. Within both receptacles were Jewel'sbelongings, neatly arranged. "This is odd!" he added.
"Grandpa, grandpa!" cried the child, rushing at him and clasping her armsaround his waist. "You're going to let me sleep down here by father andmother!"
Mr. Evringham regarded her unsmilingly. Jewel's parents both looked on,more than half expecting a snub to meet the energetic onslaught. "You won'tobject, will you?" he asked.
Jewel pulled him down and whispered something in his ear. The curiouson-lookers saw the sweeping mustache curve in a smile as he straightened upagain. As a matter of fact they were both curious to know what she had saidto him.
"You're whispering in company, Jewel," remarked her father.
"Oh, please excuse me!" said the child. "I forgot to remember. Here's AnnaBelle, father."
"My, my, my!" ejaculated Harry Evringham, coming forward. "How that childhas grown!"