“What's that?” asked the girl helplessly.
“It's in the Old Testament. Would you rather I'd find them? All right, then you can take 'Science and Health' and find that part.”
“I hope it's easy, for I'm awfully stupid, Jewel.”
“Oh, it's very easy. You'll see.” The child found the chapter and verse in the Bible and read, with her finger on the line. Eloise looked over and read with her. Thus they went through all the verses for the day, then Jewel began to give the page and line to be read in the text-book.
This volume was small and agreeable to handle, the India paper pleasant to the girl's dainty touch. According to the child's request, she read aloud the lines which were called for.
“That's all,” said Jewel at last. “Oh cousin Eloise, it's just lovely and easy to get the lesson with you,” she added gratefully.
Eloise made no response. Her eye had been caught by a statement on the page before her, and she read on in silence.
Jewel waited a minute and then, seeing that her cousin was absorbed, she laid down the Quarterly and took up her doll and sat still, watching the pretty profile, undisturbed by doubts as to what her cousin might think of the book she held, and full of utter confidence that He who healeth all our diseases would minister to her through its pages.
At last Eloise again became conscious of her surroundings. She turned to her companion, a skeptical comment on her lips, but she suppressed the words at sight of the innocent, expectant face. She certainly had nothing to give this child better than what she already possessed.
“You can read it any time when you feel sorry, cousin Eloise, that and my Bible too. Mother always does.”