CHAPTER IV
ON THE VERANDA
What a luxurious, happy, sleepy time Jewel had that night in the prettyrose-bower where her mother undressed her while her father and grandfatherwent back downstairs.
It was very sweet to be helped and cuddled as if she were again a baby, andas she lay in bed and watched her mother setting the flowers in thebathroom and arranging everything, she tried to talk to her on some of thesubjects that were uppermost in her mind. Mrs. Evringham came at last andlay down beside her. Jewel nestled into the loving arms and kissed hercheek.
"I'm too happy to go to sleep," she declared, then sighed, and instantlypretty room and pretty mother had disappeared.
Mrs. Evringham lay there on the luxurious bed, the sleeping child in herarms, and her thoughts were rich with gratitude. Her life had never beenfree from care: first as a young girl in her widowed mother's home, then aswife of the easy-going and unprincipled youth, whose desertion of her andher baby had filled her cup of bitterness, though she bravely struggled on.Her mother had died; and soon afterward the light of Christian Science haddawned upon her path. Strengthened by its support, she had grown into newhealth and courage, and life was beginning to blossom for her when herrepentant husband returned.
For a time his wayward habits were a care to her; but he was sincerelyashamed of himself, and the discovery of the development of character inthe pretty girl whom he had left six years before roused his manhood. Toher joy he began to take an interest in the faith which had wrought suchchanges in her, and after that she had no doubts of the outcome. From themoment when she obtained for him a business position, it became hisambition to take his rightful place in the world and to guard her fromrough contact, and though as yet he still leaned upon her judgment, and sheknew herself to be the earthly mainspring of all their business affairs,she knew, also, that his desire was right, and the knowledge sweetened herdays.
Here in this home which was, to her unaccustomed eyes, palatial in itsappointments, with her child again in her arms, she gave thanks for the joyof the present hour. A day or two of pleasure in these surroundings, andthen she and Harry would relieve Mr. Evringham of the care they had imposedupon him.
He had borne it nobly, there was no doubt about that. He had evencomplicated existence by giving Jewel a pony. How a pony would fit into thefrugal, busy life of the Chicago apartment, Julia did not know; but herchild's dearest wish had been gratified, and there was nothing to do butappreciate and enjoy the fact. After all, Harry's father must have morepaternal affection than her husband had ever given him credit for; for evenon the most superficial acquaintance one could see that any adaptation ofhis life and tastes to those of a child would have to come with creakingdifficulty to the stock broker, and the fact of Jewel's ease with him toldan eloquent story of how far Mr. Evringham must have constrained himselffor Harry's sake.
Her thoughts flowed on and had passed to business and all that awaited themin Chicago, when her husband rejoined her. She rose from the bed as he camein, and hand in hand they stood and looked down at Jewel, asleep.
Harry stooped and kissed the flushed cheek.
"Don't wake her, dear," said Julia, smiling at the energy of the caress.
"Wake her? I don't believe a clap of thunder would have that effect. Why,she and father have been painting the town; dining at the Waldorf, drivingin the park, riding in the swan boats, and then hanging around that dock.Bless her little heart, I should think she'd sleep for twenty-four hours."
"How wonderfully kind of him!" returned Julia. "You need never tell meagain, Harry, that your father doesn't love you."
"Oh, loving hasn't been much in father's line, but we hope it will be,"returned the young man as he slipped an arm around his wife. "Do youremember the last time we stood watching Jewel asleep? I do. It was in thatbeastly hotel the night before we sailed."
"Oh, Harry!" Julia buried her face a moment on his shoulder. "Shall youever forget our relief when her first letter came, showing that she washappy? Do you remember the hornpipe you danced in our lodgings and how youshocked the landlady? Your father may not _call_ it loving, but his careand thoughtfulness have expressed that and he can't help my loving _him_forever and forever for being kind to Jewel."
Harry gave his head a quick shake. "I'll be hanged if I can see how anybodycould be unkind to her," he remarked.
"Oh, well, you've never been an elderly man, set in your ways and used toliving alone. I'm sure it meant a great deal to him. Think of his doing allthat for her this afternoon."
"Oh, he had to pass the time somehow, and he couldn't very well refuse tolet her come in to meet us. Besides, she's on the eve of going away, andfather likes to do the handsome thing. He was doing it for other people,though, when Lawrence and I were kids. He never took us in any swan boats."
"Poor little boys!" murmured Julia.
"Oh, not at all," returned Harry, laughing rather sardonically. "We tookourselves in the swan boats and in a variety of other places not sopicturesque. Father's purse strings were always loose, and so long as wekept out of his way he didn't care what we did. Nice old place, this,Julia?"
"Oh, it's very fine. I had no idea how fine." Her tone was somewhatawestruck.
"I used to know, absolutely, that father was through with me, and thattherefore I was through with Bel-Air; but I'm a new man," the speakersmiled down at his wife and pressed her closer to him, "and I've beentelling father why, and how."
"Is that what you've been talking about?"
"Yes. He seemed interested to hear of my business and prospects and askedme a lot of questions; so, as I only began to live less than a year ago, Icouldn't answer them without telling him who and what had set me on myfeet."
"Oh, Harry! You've really been talking about Science?"
"Yes, my dear, and about you; and I tell you, he wasn't bored. When I'd letup a little he'd ask me another question; and at last he said, father did,'Well, I believe she'll make a man of you yet, Harry!' Not toocomplimentary, I admit, but I swallowed it and never flinched. I knew hewasn't going to see enough of you in two days to half know you, so I justthought I'd give him a few statistics, and they made an impression, Iassure you. After that if he wanted to set me down a little it was no morethan I deserved, and he was welcome."
For a long moment the two looked into one another's eyes, then Harry spokein a subdued tone:--
"You've done a lot for me, Julia; but the biggest thing of all, the thingthat is most wonderful and that means the most to me, and for which I'dworship you through eternity if it was _all_ you'd done, is that you havetaught me of Christian Science and shown me how it has guarded that child'slove and respect for me, when I was forfeiting both every hour. I'll workto my last day, my girl, to show you my gratitude for that."
"Darling boy!" she murmured.
Next morning at rising time Jewel was still wrapped in slumber. Her parentslooked at her before going downstairs.
"Do you know, I can't help feeling a bit relieved," laughed Julia softly,"that she won't go down with us. The little thing is rather thoughtlesswith her grandfather, and though he has evidently schooled himself toendure her energetic ways, I can't help feeling a bit anxious all the time.He has borne it so well this long that I want to get her away before shebreaks the camel's back. When do you think we can go, Harry?"
"To-morrow or next day. You might get things packed to-day. I really oughtto go, but I don't want to seem in a hurry."
"Oh, yes, do let us go to-morrow," returned Julia eagerly.
The Westminster clock on the stairs chimed as they passed down, and Mr.Evringham was waiting for them in the dining-room. As he said good-morninghe looked beyond them, expectantly.
Mrs. Forbes greeted them respectfully and indicated their seats.
"Where is Jewel?" asked the host.
"In dreamland. You couldn't waken her with a volley of artillery," returnedHarry cheerfully.
"H'm," returned his father.
They all took their places a
t the table and Julia remarked on the charmingoutlook from the windows.
"Yes," returned the host. "I'm sorry I can't stay at home this morning anddo the honors of the park. I shall leave that to Harry and Jewel. As wewere rather late last night I didn't take my canter this morning. If youwish to have a turn on the mare, Harry, Zeke knows that the stables are inyour hands. No one but myself rides Essex Maid, but I'll make a shiningexception of you."
"I appreciate the honor," returned Harry lightly, but as a matter of facthe did not at all grasp its extent.
"If you'd like to take your wife for a drive there's the Spider. The childwill want to show you her pony and will probably get you off on someexcursion. Tell her there is time enough and not to make you do two days'work in one."
After breakfast the trio adjourned to the piazza and Julia looked out onthe thick, dewy grass and spreading trees.
"I believe the park improves, father," said Harry, smiling as he noted hiswife's delight in the charming landscape.
Deep armchairs and tables, rugs and a wicker divan furnished a portion ofthe piazza. "How will little Jewel like the apartment after this?" Juliacould not help asking herself the question mentally. She no longer wonderedat the child's content here, even without the companionship of otherchildren. It must be an unimaginative little maid who, supported by AnnaBelle, could not weave a fairy-land in this fresh paradise.
"Won't you be seated?" said the broker, waving his hand toward the chairs.The others obeyed as he took his place. "Let us know a little, now, what weare doing. What did I understand you to say, Harry, is your limit fortime?"
"Well, I ought, really, to go west to-morrow, father."
Mr. Evringham nodded and turned his incisive glance upon hisdaughter-in-law. "And you, Julia?"
She smiled brightly at him. He observed that her complexion bore thesunlight well. "Oh, Jewel and I go with him, of course," she responded,confident that her reply would convey satisfaction.
"H'm. Indeed! Now it seems to me that you would be the better for avacation."
"Why! Haven't I just had a trip to Europe?"
"Yes, I should think you had. From all that Harry tells me, I judge whatwith hunting up fashions and fabrics and corset-makers and all the rest ofit, you have done the work, daily, of about two able-bodied men."
"That's right," averred Harry. "I was too much of a greenhorn to give hermuch assistance."
"Still, you understand your own end of the business, I take it," said hisfather, turning suddenly upon him.
"Yes, I do. I believe the firm will say I'm the square peg in the squarehole."
"Then why not take a vacation, Julia?" asked the broker again.
"Harry is doing splendidly," she returned gently, "but we can't live on thesalary he gets now. He needs my help for a while, yet. I'm going to be alady of leisure some day." The broker caught the glance of confidence shesent his boy.
"I'm screwing up my courage now to strike them for more," said Harry. "Itfrets me worse every day to see that girl delving away, and a greatstrapping, hulking chap like me not able to prevent it."
His father looked gravely at the young wife. "Let him begin now," he said."He doesn't need your apron string any longer."
"What do you mean?" asked Julia, half timidly.
"Stay here with me a while and let Harry go west. I will take you and Jewelto the seashore."
"Hurray!" cried Harry, his face radiant. "Julia, why, you won't knowyourself strolling on the sands with a parasol while your poor delicatehusband is toiling and moiling away in the dingy city. Good for you,father! You lift that pretty nose of hers up from the grindstone whereshe's held it so many years that she doesn't know anything different.Hurray, Julia!" In his enthusiasm the speaker rose and leaned over thechair of his astonished wife. "You wake up in the morning and read a novelinstead of your appointment book for a while," he went on. "The Chicagowomen's summer clothes are all made by this time, anyway. Play lady foronce and come back to me the color of mahogany. Go ahead!"
"Why, Harry, how can I? What would you do?"
"I'm hanged if I don't show you what I'd do, and do it well, too," hereturned.
"But I ought to go home first," faltered the bewildered woman.
"Not a bit of it. I'll tackle the firm and the apartment, all right; and tobe plain, we can't afford the needless car fare."
"But, father," Julia appealed to him, "is it right to make Harry get onstill longer without Jewel?"
"Perfectly right. Entirely so," rejoined the broker decidedly.
"Of course he doesn't realize how we feel about Jewel," thought Julia.
Here a large brown horse and brougham came around the driveway into sight.Zeke's eyes turned curiously toward the guests, but he sat stifflyimmovable.
The broker rose. "I must go now or I shall miss my train. Think it over.There's only one way to think about it. It is quite evidently the thing todo. The break has been made, and now is the time for Julia to take hervacation before going into harness again. Moreover, perhaps Harry will gethis raise and she won't have to go into harness. Good-morning. I shall tryto come out early. I hope you will make yourselves comfortable."
Mrs. Evringham looked at Zeke. He was the glass of fashion and the mould ofform, but there was no indication in his smooth-shaven, wooden countenanceof the comrade to whom Jewel had referred in her fragmentary letters.
"Well, Harry!" she exclaimed breathlessly, as the carriage rolled away. Herexpression elicited a hearty laugh from her husband. "I _never_ was sosurprised. How unselfish he is! Harry, is it possible that we don't knowyour father at _all_? Think of his proposing to keep, still longer, adisturbing element like our lively little girl!"
"Oh, I've never believed he bothered himself very much about Jewel,"returned Harry lightly. "You make a mountain out of that. All a child needsis a ten acre lot to let off steam in, and she's had it here. He knowsyou'll keep her out from under foot. Let's accept this pleasure. Heprobably takes a lot of stock in you after all I told him last night. It'sa relief to his pride and everything else that I'm not going to disgracethe name. He wants to do something for you. That's the whole thing in anutshell; and you let him do it, Julia." In an exuberance of spirits, aidedby the fresh, inspiring morning, the speaker took his wife in his arms, asthey stood there on the wide veranda, and hugged her heartily.
"Do you think I shall get over my awe of him?" She half laughed, but hertone was sincere. "I'm so unused to people who never smile and seem to beenduring me. Oh, if you were only going to stay, too, Harry, then it wouldbe a vacation indeed!"
"Here, here! Where are your principles? Who's afraid now?"
"But he's so stately and forbidding, and I shall feel such a responsibilityof keeping Jewel from troubling him."
Harry laughed again. "She seems entirely capable of paddling her own canoe.She didn't seem troubled by doubts or compunctions in the carriage lastnight; and up there in the bedroom when she flew at him! How was that for acase of _lese majeste_? Gad, at her age I'd sooner have tackled a lightedfuse! What do you suppose it was she whispered to him?"
"I've no idea, and I must say I was curious enough to ask her while I wasputting her to bed; but do you know, she wouldn't say!" The mother laughed."She sidled about,--you know how she does when she is reluctant to speak,and seemed so embarrassed that I have to laugh when I think of it."
"Perhaps it concerned some surprise she has persuaded father to give us."
"No, it couldn't be that, because she answered at last that she'd tell mewhen she was a young lady."
They both laughed. "Well," said Harry, "she isn't afraid of him so you'dnotice it; and you can give her a few pointers so she needn't get infather's way now that she has you again. He has evidently been mightyconsiderate of the little orphan."
"How good he has been!" returned Julia fervently. "If we could only go homewith you, Harry," she added wistfully, "while there's so much good feeling,and before anything happens to alter it!"
"Where are your principles
?" asked Harry again. "You know better than tothink anything will happen to alter it."
"Yes, I do, I do; but I always have to meet my shyness of strangers, and itmakes my heart beat to think of your going off and leaving me here. Beingtete-a-tete with your father is appalling, I must confess."
"Oh, well, it wouldn't do to slight his offer, and it will do you a worldof good."
"You'll have to send me my summer gowns."
"I will."
"Dear me, am I really going to _do_ it?" asked Julia incredulously.
"Certainly you are. We'd be imbecile not to accept such an opportunity."
"Then," she answered resignedly, "if it is fact and not a wild fancy, wehave a lot of business to talk over, Harry. Let us make the most of ourtime while Jewel is asleep."
She led the way back to the chairs, and they were soon immersed inmemoranda and discussion.