CHAPTER XIX
A MORNING DRIVE
"I declare, Eloise," said Mrs. Evringham the next morning, "it is almostworth three whole days of storm to have a spell of such heavenly weatherto follow. We're sure of several days like this now," She was standingat the open window, having shown a surprising energy in rising soonafter breakfast.
She glanced over her shoulder at her daughter, who was picking up thegarments strewn about the room. "Now you can live out of doors, I hope,and get yourself toned up again. Really, last evening things were verycomfortable, weren't they?"
"Yes. I thought the lump had begun to be leavened," returned the girl.
"Talk English, please," said her mother vivaciously. "Father seemedquite human, and that is all we have ever needed to make thingstolerable here. I suppose we reaped the benefit of his relief about thehorse."
"It's all Jewel," said Eloise, smiling. "That's English, isn't it?"
"Jewel!" Mrs. Evringham exclaimed. "Why, you're all daffy about thatchild. What _is_ the attraction?"
"That's what I'm trying to find out. It's time for me to go up now andbraid her hair and read the lesson."
Mrs. Evringham regarded her daughter. "Young people are eager fornovelty, I know," she said, "and it would seem as if an interest in achild was an innocent diversion for you at a time when you were growingmorbid, but I do think I'm the most unlucky woman in the world! To thinkthat the child should have to be a Christian Scientist, and that youshould take this perverse interest in her ideas just now. I haven'tspoken of your remarks about the horse last night, but it was in poortaste, to say the least, to mention such nonsense before Dr. Ballard,and apparently do it so seriously. I knew you had been helping Jewelwith lessons, but until last evening I didn't suspect that it might allbe on that odious subject. Is it, Eloise?"
"Yes, but it isn't odious. I like the fruit of it in her."
"You've never shown Dr. Ballard your most agreeable side, and now ifyou're going to parade before him, an Episcopalian and a physician, aninterest in this--anarchism, I shan't blame him in the smallest degreeif he gives up all thought of you."
Eloise, the undemonstrative, put an arm around her mother. "Shan't you,really?" she replied wistfully. "If I could only hope that."
"Do you want to give me nervous prostration?" rejoined Mrs. Evringhamsharply. "Eloise," her voice suddenly breaking, "do you love to tormentme?"
"Indeed I don't, poor mother, but I've been so tormented myself, and sodesirous not to--oh, not to do anything ignoble! I can't tell you allI've endured since--" She paused, her lips unsteady.
"Since we lost your father," dismally. "Yes, I know it. I'm the mostunlucky woman in the world!"
Eloise's arm tightened about her mother as she went on, "Since I wasenchanted and thrown into Castle Discord." She looked off at the mentalpicture of her cousin. "Mother," she turned back suddenly, "what awonderful thing it is if there really is a God."
"Why, Eloise Evringham, have you ever doubted it! That's positivelyill-bred!"
"But One that would be any good to us! Jewel's mother thinks she knowssuch a One, and so does the child. I wish you'd look into this ChristianScience with me. You might find it better than getting grandfather topay our bills, better than marrying me to Dr. Ballard."
Mrs. Evringham raised her eyes to her deity. "What have I ever done,"she ejaculated, "that I should have a queer child! Well, I will notlook into it," she returned decidedly; "and if Dr. Ballard were not thebroad, noble type of man that he is, he wouldn't take the trouble tonotice and entertain a child who has treated him as she has. It mighttouch even you to see the lengths to which he goes to please you. I hopeyou will at least have the grace to go down with Jewel to the buggy andsee them off."
"I couldn't in this wrapper," replied Eloise, releasing the speaker.
"Of course not, so put on a dress before you go up to Jewel."
"It's too late, dear. He'll be here by half-past ten. I must have herready."
Mrs. Evringham looked after her daughter's retreating figure, and thenher lips came together firmly. She untied the ribbons of the loose gownof lace and silk, in which she had keyed herself up by degrees to facethe requirements of luncheon and the afternoon's diversions, and donneda conventional dress, in which she composed herself by the window towatch for the doctor's buggy. There was a vista in the park avenue whichafforded a fair look at equipages three minutes before they could reachMr. Evringham's gateway.
From the moment the doctor's office hour was over this stanch supporterset herself to watch that gap. As soon as she saw Hector's dappled coatand easy stride she sprang up and went downstairs, and when the shiningbuggy paused at the steps and Dr. Ballard jumped out, she appeared onthe piazza to greet him.
"What an inspiring morning!" she said, as he removed his hat. "Thatinsane girl!" she thought. "If he had chanced to be awkward and plain,he would have been just as important to us. His good looks are thrownin, and yet she won't behave herself."
"Glorious indeed!" he replied heartily. "Where's my young lady?"
Mrs. Evringham had plenty of worldly experience, and not even herenemies called her stupid, but at this moment there was but one younglady in the world to her, as she believed there was to him.
"She is upstairs braiding Jewel's hair," she replied before she realizedher own insanity. Then she hastened on, coloring under the odd look inhis eyes, "But you mean Jewel, of course. She will be down at once, I'msure. It's so kind of you to take her."
"Not at all. She's an original worth cultivating."
Mrs. Evringham shrugged her shoulders. "I suppose she must be, since youall say so. Eloise gives up a surprising amount of time to her, but Ican't judge much from that, because Eloise is so unselfish. For my part,the child's ideas are so strange, and my little girl is still so youngand impressionable, I object to having them much together. It may seemvery absurd, when Jewel is so young."
"No; I saw last evening how interested Miss Eloise already is."
"Oh," hastily, "she pretends to be, and I assure you I object. Eloisehas a good mind, and I hope you will offer a little antidote nowand then to the stuff she has begun to read. A word to the wise, Dr.Ballard. I need say no more."
It was true. Mrs. Evringham had no need to say more. Her ideas, andespecially those which related to himself, had always been inscribed inlarge characters and words of one syllable for her present companion,who was a young man of considerable perception and discrimination.
He had not time to reply before Jewel, radiant of face, appeared in thedoorway, where she hesitated, her doll in her arms.
"I brought Anna Belle," she said doubtfully, "but I can leave her underthe stairs if there isn't room."
"Anna Belle under the stairs on a morning like this! And in such atoilet? Talk about error!" The doctor's tone was tragic as he lifted thehappy child into the buggy.
Mrs. Evringham nodded a reply to their smiling farewells as Hectorsprang forward, and she looked after them in some perplexity.
"Why should he take the trouble?" she reflected. "It would have beensuch a splendid morning for them to have gone riding if he had thisleisure. Of course it must have been just one of his indirect and lovelyways of trying to please Eloise."
Just as she was solacing herself with the latter reflection, herdaughter stepped out on the piazza, a little black book in her hand.
"Warm enough to sit out, isn't it?" she remarked.
Her mother looked at her critically. She had not seen this care-freelook on her child's face since Lawrence died.
"Why didn't you come out a little sooner?"
"I wasn't presentable. How delicious the air is!"
"Yes. Let us sit here and finish that novel."
"All right."
"What have you there?"
"Mrs. Eddy's book,--'Science and Health.'"
Mrs. Evringham made a grimace. "I read part of it once. That was enoughfor me. Think of the price they charge for it, too. Think of pretendingit is such a good thing
for everybody to have, and then putting a priceon it that prohibits the average pocketbook." Eloise's smile annoyed hermother. "Weren't you with me the day Nat Bonnell's mother said so muchabout it?"
"How foolish she was not to try it," said Eloise. "Such a hopeless,monotonous invalid."
"Well, some of her friends worked hard enough to induce her to, but whenshe found out the mercenary side of it, she saw at once that it couldn'tbe trustworthy."
"I suppose even Christian Scientists must have a roof and food andclothes," returned Eloise coolly; "but I've thought a good deal the lastfew days about the criticisms I've heard on the price of the book. Thefuss over that three dollars is certainly very funny, when theaverage pocketbook goes to the theatre sometimes, has flowers for itsentertainments, and rejoices to find lace reduced from a dollar and aquarter to ninety-five cents a yard for its gowns. It eagerly hoards andspends three dollars for some passing pleasure or effect, but winces andponders over paying the same sum for a book that will last a lifetime,and which, if it is worth anything, furnishes the key to every problemin life."
"But why isn't it as cheap as the Bible if it is so beneficial?"
"It will be, probably, when it is generally respected. For the presentit wouldn't be wise to cast it about like pearls before swine." Eloisesmiled at herself. "You see I'm talking as if I knew it all. My wisdomcomes partially from what I have extracted from Jewel, and partly fromwhat is obvious. I haven't reached the place yet where I am convinced,but this book is wonderfully interesting. It came to me in the darkesthour I have ever known, and it has--it has seemed to feed me when I wasstarving. I don't know how else to put it. I can't think of anythingelse. Mother, why haven't we a Bible? I was ashamed when Jewel askedme."
Mrs. Evringham, astonished and dismayed by her daughter's earnestness,drew herself up. "We have a Bible, certainly. What an idea!"
"Where is it?" eagerly.
"In the storage warehouse with the other books."
Eloise's laugh nettled her mother.
"The prayer books are upstairs on my table. What more do you want if youare going to take an interest in such things? I wish you would, dear,and embroider an altar cloth while you are here. I'm sure father wouldgladly contribute the materials and feel a pride in it."
"Oh mother," Eloise still smiled, "you know he never goes to church."
"But he contributes largely."
"Well, I haven't time to embroider altar cloths. Shall I get the story?"
"Yes, do. We'll go around the corner, out of the wind."
Meanwhile Dr. Ballard's buggy was covering the ground rapidly. Throughthe avenues of the park sped Hector, and joy! Dr. Ballard allowed Jewelto drive as long as they remained within its precincts. Slipping hishand through the reins above where she grasped them, he held Anna Belleon his knee. Jewel had not suspected the size of the park. One couldalmost see the watered leaves increase in the sunshine, and the birdswere swelling their little throats to the utmost. The roses in hercheeks deepened in her happy excitement. She allowed the doctor to domost of the talking, while she kept her eyes on the horse's ears. Justonce she ventured to turn enough to glance at him.
"I've had dreams of driving horses," she said.
"Is this the first time you've done it waking?"
"No, the second. Father took me once in Washington Park just beforehe came away, but the horse didn't pull like this." She smiledseraphically.
"So, boy, steady," said the doctor soothingly, and Hector obeyed thevoice.
"Did you play in the Ravine of Happiness when you were a little boy?"
"Where's that?"
"Where the brook is."
"Oh yes. Are you planning to take me to that brook and wet my feet,Jewel?"
"We've gone long past it. Don't you know?"
"I think my education has been neglected. I don't remember it."
"We can go," returned Jewel suggestively.
"Very well, we will; but first I have a couple of visits I must make."
The horse was now trotting toward the park gate. As they reached it Dr.Ballard returned Anna Belle and took the lines.
Jewel gave an unconscious sigh of rapture. "Trolleys and so on, youknow," explained Dr. Ballard. "When you come back ten years from now youshall drive outside too. How was Essex Maid this morning?"
"She was all right, but grandpa took only a short ride. I guess he was alittle--bit--afraid."
"She's the apple of his eye, or he wouldn't have been so nervous over atrifle last evening," remarked the doctor.
"Well, she made a great fuss," replied Jewel. "She fell down in herstall, and everything like that."
"Did she really?"
"Yes. Zeke said his knees were shaking."
"But she was all right by the time Dr. Busby arrived?"
"Yes."
Dr. Ballard looked at his small companion, a quizzical smile curving hismustache.
"I've never thought of taking a partner, Jewel, but I might considera mascot. What do you say to sharing my office and being my mascot?Special high chair for Anna Belle, be it well understood."
The little girl eyed him, her head on one side. It was her experiencethat all men were jokers. "I don't know what a mascot is," she replied.
"It's something or somebody that brings one good luck."
"Do you think I could bring you good luck?"
"It looks that way. Of course there are certain rules you would have toobserve. It wouldn't do for you to talk against materia medica to thepatients in the anteroom."
"What is an anteroom?"
"The place where my patients wait until I can see them in my office."
Jewel lifted her shoulders and smiled. "I might read them 'Science andHealth' while they waited, and then they wouldn't have to go in."
Dr. Ballard's laugh rang heartily along the leafy street. "Is that youridea of mascoting a poor young physician?" he inquired.
Jewel laughed in sympathy. She didn't quite understand him, but she knewthat they were having a very good time.
Pretty soon her companion drove in at the gate of an imposing oldresidence, set back from the street where the trolley ran with an air ofwithdrawing from the intrusion of these modern tracks.
"I thought it wouldn't injure your conscience to wait for me while Imade a couple of professional visits, Jewel, eh?" he asked, as he jumpedout and fastened Hector to the ring in the hand of a bronze boy. "Iwon't be any longer than I can help, and don't you go to hoodooing me,now, while I'm upstairs." The doctor returned to the buggy and took theblack case, frowning warningly at the child. "I have troubles enoughhere without that. This old lady used to trot me on her knee, and shewants to spend half an hour every morning proving that doctors don'tknow anything before she'll let me get to business."
"It must be hard for doctors," returned Jewel, "going to sorry peopleall the time, and nothing to give them except something on theirtongues."
Dr. Ballard gave his small companion a quick glance. If he secretlyconsidered her beliefs as too richly absurd to excite aught butamusement, she evidently as honestly compassionated the poverty of ideasin his learned profession.
"Well, I'll hurry," he said, and vanished within the house. Time wouldnot have dragged for Jewel had he stayed all the morning. To sit in theshining buggy in close proximity to the dappled gray Hector, and withAnna Belle for a sympathizer, caused the minutes to be winged.
When the doctor returned, a radiant face welcomed him.
"I thought I should never get away," he sighed, "but you don't lookbored."
He untied the horse, jumped into the buggy, and they were off again,Hector striding along as if to make up for lost time. "Now only one morecall, Jewel, and then we'll get back out of the dust again," said thedoctor cheerily.
"I haven't noticed any dust, Dr. Ballard. I'm having the most _fun_!"
"Well now, I'm glad of that. It's a great thing to be eight years old,Jewel."
"That's what cousin Eloise says. She says she'd like to be."
"Indeed? How is the enchanting--excuse me--I mean the enchanted maidenthis morning?"
"She's well. She ties my bows now, so grandpa doesn't have to."
"Ties your--" The doctor looked at the speaker, mystified.
Jewel put her hand up to the small billows of silk behind her ear. "Myhair bows. They were real hard for grandpa to do."
Dr. Ballard repressed a guffaw, and then turned solemn. "Do you mean tosay that Mr. Evringham tied your hair ribbons?"
"Why yes."
"That settles it, Jewel. You must go into partnership with me and wavewands and things. Setting Essex Maid on her legs wasn't a patch onthat."
Jewel regarded him questioningly a moment and then repeated, "But it wasreal hard for grandpa."
"I can believe it!"
"And cousin Eloise is the kindest girl. She's like grandpa about that.Her kindness is inside, too."
"Is it indeed? You don't know how much I thank you for telling me whereto look for it."
"Oh, she must be kind to _you_, Dr. Ballard!"
"Once in a while, once in a while," he replied cautiously, but Jewelcouldn't get a look into his eyes, though she tried, he was so busilyengaged poking an invisible fly from Hector's side with the point of thewhip. "If you'll find a way to make her kind to me all the time, Jewel,then you will be my mascot indeed."
"All you have to do is to know she is," replied the child earnestly."I felt the way you do, at first, but now I've found out just because Istopped being afraid."
"Ah, that's the recipe, eh? All I've to do is to stop being afraid."
"That's all!" cried Jewel, beaming at his ready comprehension. "You'llfind out there isn't a thing to be afraid of with Cousin Eloise, andoh, Dr. Ballard," the child smiled at him wistfully, "she's gettingso--so--unenchanted."
"You just waved your wand, I suppose, and said 'Presto change,'"returned the young man.
He turned Hector down a side street and drew rein under a large elm."Here's my rheumatic gentleman," he added, as he jumped from the buggyand fastened the horse. "He won't keep me waiting while he abusesdoctors, so I shan't be quite so long this time." The speaker seized hiscase and went up a garden path to the house, and Jewel, with a luxurioussigh, set Anna Belle in the place he had vacated.