“Where to?”
“Church.”
“Heavens, child! Wednesday evening prayer meeting?” asked the broker in perturbation.
“No. It's just lovely reading and singing and interesting stories,” replied Jewel, endeavoring to paint the picture as attractively as possible.
“H'm. H'm. Do you suppose Mr. Reeves goes?”
“Why, of course,” replied the child. “Scientists never stay away.”
“Then should I be considered a Scientist if I went? I still have some regard for my reputation.”
“A great many visitors go,” replied the child earnestly. Then she added, with unmistakably sincere naivete, “I don't mind leaving you in the daytime, because we're used to it; but I was thinking it would make me homesick, grandpa, to go away in the evening and leave you in the library.”
Mr. Evringham took her little hand in his. “Have you thought, Jewel,” he asked, “how it will be when you leave me altogether?”
“I shall have mother and father then,” returned the child.