“I have thought about it,” returned the child, “and it seems hard to know what to say; but I love you and Dr. Ballard both, so it will be sure to come out right. He feels sorry if you are beginning to like to study Christian Science.”
“Really, did he speak of that to you? I think he might have chosen a man of his size.”
“Of course he spoke of it when he found out I wanted to ask you to take me to our church.”
“Where is the church here?” Eloise abandoned her lazy tone.
“They have a hall. Mr. Reeves wrote it down for me. Do you really care, cousin Eloise? You've been so kind and helped me, but do you really begin to care?”
“Care? Who could help caring, if it is true? I've been reading some of the tales of cures in your magazine. If those people tell the truth”—
“Why, cousin Eloise!” The child's shocked eyes recalled the girl's self-centred thoughts.
“I beg your pardon, dear. It was rude to say that. I'm not ill, Jewel. I'm so well and strong that—I've sometimes wished I wasn't, but life turned petty and disgusting to me. I resented everything. It is just as wonderful and radiant a star of hope to read that there is a sure way out of my tangle as if I had consumption and was promised a cure of that. I don't yet exactly believe it, but I don't disbelieve it. All I know is I want to read, read, read all the time. I was just thinking a minute ago that if we had the books here it would be perfect. This is the sort of place where it would be easiest to see that only the good is the real, and that the unsubstantiality of everything evil can be proved.”
Jewel gave her head a little shake. “Just think of poor Dr. Ballard being afraid to have you believe that.”
“But who wouldn't be afraid to believe it, who wouldn't!” exclaimed the girl vehemently.