"If you would only reassure me,my child,so I wouldn't have to undergo such moments of anxiety as I do.""Oh,you have no mercy!"exclaimed the girl;and when she used that tone her mother usually became tearful.She did now.
"You act as if you weren't a perfect treasure,Eloise--as if I didn't consider you a treasure for a prince of the realm!"A knock at the door heralded Sarah's arrival for the tray,and Mrs.
Evringham hastily wiped her eyes.
"Yes,you can take the things,"she said as the maid approached."Ican't tip you as I should,Sarah.I'm going to get you something pretty the next time I go to New York."Sarah had heard this before.
"And if you know of any one going to the village this morning,I want a piece of lace braid.Have you heard how Miss Julia is?""She was down at breakfast,ma'am,and Mr.Evringham had her out to the stable to see Essex Maid.""He did?In the rain?How very imprudent!"
After Sarah had departed with her burden,Mrs.Evringham took off her eyeglasses.
"There,Eloise,you heard that?It's just as I thought.He is taking a fancy to her."The girl smiled without turning her head."Oh no,that wasn't your prophecy,mother.You said she was too plain to have a chance with our fastidious host.""Well,didn't she look forlorn last night at the dinner table?"demanded Mrs.Evringham,a challenge in her voice.
"Indeed she did,the poor baby.She looked exactly as if she had two female relatives in the house,neither of whom would lift a finger to help her,even though she was just off a sick bed.The same relatives don't know this minute how or where she spent the evening.""I felt very glad she was content somewhere away from the drawing-room,"returned Mrs.Evringham practically."You know we expected Dr.
Ballard up to the moment the roses arrived,and from all I gathered at the dinner table,it would have been awkward enough for him to walk in upon that child.Besides,I don't see why you use that tone with me.it has been your own choice to let her paddle her own canoe,and you've had an object lesson now that I hope you won't forget.You wouldn't believe me when I begged you to exert yourself for your grandfather,and now you see even that plain little thing could get on with him just because she dared take him by storm.She has about everything in her disfavor.The child of a common working woman,with no beauty,and a little crank of a Christian Scientist into the bargain,and yet now see!He took her out to the stable to see Essex Maid!I never knew you contradictory and disagreeable until lately,Eloise.You even act like a stick with Dr.Ballard just to be perverse."Mrs.Evringham flounced over in bed,with her back to the white negligee.
Eloise had seen what she had been watching for.Her grandfather had driven away to the station,so she arose and came over to the foot of the bed.
"I know I'm irritable,mother,"she said repentantly."The idleness and uselessness of my life have grated on me until I know I'm not fit to live with.If I had had any of the training of a society girl,Icould bear it better;but papa kept my head full of school,--for which I bless him,--and now that the dream of college is hopeless,and that the only profession you wish for me is marriage,I dread to wake up in the mornings."The young voice was unsteady.
Mrs.Evringham heaved a long sigh."Give me patience!"she murmured,then added mentally,"It can't be many days,and she won't refuse him.""Go down to the piano and play yourself good-natured,"she returned.
"Then come up and we'll go on with that charming story.It quite refreshed me to read of that coming-out ball.It was so like my own."Eloise,her lips set in a sad curve,rose and left the room.Once in the hall,she paused for a minute.Then instead of descending the stairs,she ran noiselessly up the next flight.The rain was pelting steadily on the dome of golden glass through which light fell to the halls.She stole,as she had done yesterday,to the door of Jewel's room.
Again as yesterday she heard a voice,but this time it was singing.
The tones were very sweet,surprisingly strong and firm to proceed from lips which always spoke so gently.The door was not quite closed,and Eloise pressed her ear to the crack.Thus she could easily hear the words of Jewel's song:--"And o'er the earth's troubled,angry sea I see Christ walk;And come to me,and tenderly,Divinely,talk."The hymn stopped for a minute,and the child appeared to be conversing with some one.
Eloise waited,openly,eagerly listening,hoping the singer would resume.Something in those unexpected words in the sweet child voice stirred her.Presently Jewel sang on:--"From tired joy,and grief afar,And nearer Thee,Father,where Thine own children are I love to be!"The lump that rose in the listener's throat forced a moisture into her eyes.
"I never could hear a child sing without crying,"she said to herself in excuse,as she leaned her forehead on her hand against the jamb of the door and waited for the strange stir at her heart to quiet.
The house was still.The rain swept against the panes,and tears stole from under the girl's long lashes--tears for her empty,vapid life,for the hopelessness of the future,for the humiliations of the present,for the lack of a love that should be without self-interest.
"I like that verse,Anna Belle,"said the voice within."Let's sing that again,"and the hymn welled forth:--"From tired joy,and grief afar,And nearer Thee,Father,where Thine own children are I love to be!""Is there a haven?"thought the swelling,listening heart outside."Is there a place far alike from tired joy and grief?""'Father,where Thine own children are,'"quoted Jewel."We know where a lot of them are,don't we,Anna Belle,and we do love to be with them."A pause,and a light sigh,which did not reach the listener."But we're at grandpa's now,"finished the child's voice.
Eloise's breaths came long and deep drawn,and she stood motionless,her eyes hidden.
