“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 maiden this 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. “My hair bows. They were real hard for grandpa to do.”
Dr. Ballard repressed a guffaw, and then turned solemn. “Do you mean to say that Mr. Evringham tied your hair ribbons?”
“Why yes.”
“That settles it, Jewel. You must go into partnership with me and wave wands and things. Setting Essex Maid on her legs wasn't a patch on that.”