"Oh, are you going golfing?" said Mrs. Evringham that afternoon to herdaughter. "Do put on your white duck, dear."
"Yes, I intend to. I'm going with grandfather."
"You are?" in extremest surprise. "Oh, wear your dark skirt, dear; it'splenty good enough. Do you mean to say he asked you, Eloise?"
"No, I asked him."
Mrs. Evringham stood in silent amaze, her brain working alertly. Sheeven watched her daughter don the immaculate white golf suit, and madeno further protest.
What was in the girl's mind? When finally from her window she saw thetwo enter the brougham, Mr. Evringham carrying his granddaughter'sclubs, she smiled a knowing smile and nodded her head.
"I do believe I've wronged Eloise," she thought. "How foolish it was toworry. I've been wondering how in the world I was going to get father togive her a wedding, and how I was going to get her to accept it, andnow look! That child has thought of the same thing, and will manage it ahundred times better than I could."
Jewel stood on the steps and waved her hand as the brougham rolled away.Eloise had seized and squeezed her surreptitiously in the hall beforethey came out.
"I do feel braced up, Jewel. Thank you," she whispered hurriedly.
"Is the man over at the golf links?" asked the child, surprised to seethat Eloise and her grandfather were going out together.
"He will be by the time I get there," returned the girl.
As soon as the carriage door had closed and they had started, Eloisespoke. "You must think it very strange that I asked this of you,grandfather."
There was a hint of violets clinging to the fresh white garments thatbrushed Mr. Evringham's knee.
"I would not question the gifts the gods provide;" he returned.
She seemed able to rise above the fear of his sarcasms. "Not thatyou would be surprised at anything mother or I might ask of you," shecontinued bravely, "but I have suffered, I'm sure, as much as you haveduring the last two months."
"Indeed? I regret to hear that."
If there was a sting in this reply, Eloise refused to recognize it.
"In fact I have felt so much that it has made it impossible hitherto tosay anything, but Jewel has given me courage."
Mr. Evringham smoothed his mustache. "She has plenty to spare," hereturned.
"She says," went on Eloise, "that everything that isn't love is hate;and hate, of course, in her category is unreal. It is because I want thereal things, because I long for real things, for truth, that I asked tohave this talk, grandfather, and I wanted to be quite alone with you, soI thought of this way."
"It's the mater she's running away from, then," reflected her companion.He nodded courteously. "I am at your disposal," he returned.
Subtly the broker's feeling toward Eloise had been changing since theevening in which Jewel wrote to her parents. His hard and fast opinionof her had been slightly shaken. The frankness of her remarks onChristian Science in the presence of Dr. Ballard the other evening hadbeen a surprise to him. The cold, proud, noncommittal, ease-loving girlwho in his opinion had decided to marry the young doctor was either lessdesigning than he had believed, or else wonderfully certain of her ownpower to hold him. He found himself regarding her with new interest.
"I've been waiting for mother to talk with you," she went on, "and clearup our position; but she does not, and so I must." The speaker's handswere tightly clasped in her lap. "I wish I had Jewel's unconsciousness,her certainty that all is Good, for I feel--I feel shame before you,grandfather."
It seemed to Mr. Evringham that Jewel's eyes were appealing to him.
"She says," he returned with a rather grim smile, "Jewel avers that I amkindness itself inside. Let us admit it for convenience now, and see ifyou can't speak freely."
"Thank you. You know what I am ashamed of: staying here so long;imposing upon you; taking everything for granted when we have no right.I want to understand our affairs; to know if we have anything, and whatit is; to have you help me, _you_; to have you tell me how we canlive independently, and help me to make mother agree to it. Oh, if youwould--if you _could_ be my friend, grandfather. I need you so!"
Mr. Evringham received this impetuous outburst without change ofcountenance. "How about Ballard?" he said. "I thought he was going tosettle all this."
There was silence in the brougham. The flash of hurt in the girl's eyeswas quenched by quick tears. Her companion reddened under the look ofsurprise she bent upon him, her lovely lips unsteady.
"No offense," he added hastily. "Ballard's sentiments are evidentenough, and he is a fine fellow."
Eloise controlled herself. "Will you take the trouble to explain ouraffairs to me?" she asked.
"Certainly," responded Mr. Evringham quickly. "I wish for your sakethere was more to explain, more possibilities in the case."
"We have nothing?" exclaimed the girl acutely.
"Your father took heavy chances and lost. His affairs are nearlysettled, and what there is left is small indeed." The speaker cast aquick glance at the girl beside him. She had caught her lip betweenher teeth. Jewel's soft voice sounded in his ears. "Cousin Eloise feelssorry because she isn't your real relation." An inkling of what the girlmight suffer came to him.
"Your mother and you have a claim upon me," he went on. "I shouldcertainly feel a responsibility of all my son's debts, and the one tohis wife and daughter in particular. I will try to make the situationeasier for you in some way."
"Manage for us to go away, grandfather. Haven't you a little housesomewhere?"
The beseeching in her tone surprised Mr. Evringham still more. What didthe girl mean? Didn't she intend to marry Ballard? He had believed herto be planning to preside in the Mountain Avenue mansion.
"Yes, it can be arranged, certainly," he answered vaguely; "but there'sno hurry, Eloise," he added, in the kindest tone he had ever used towardher. "Some evening we will go over the affairs, and I will show youwhere your mother stands financially, and we will try to make some planthat shall be satisfactory."
Eloise gave him a grateful look, as much in response to his manner as tohis words. "Thank you. The present condition is certainly--error," shesaid.
"Well, we'll try to find harmony," replied the other. "Jewel would sayit was easy. I should like to have you remain at my house at least aslong as she does, Eloise. I should probably have to tie her hair ribbonsagain if you went."
The two found themselves smiling at each other. The atmosphere waslightened, and the brougham drew up at the clubhouse.
Mr. Evringham handed out the girl, gave Zeke the order to return forthem, and they went up the steps.
"I would drive back with him, grandfather, only that mother wouldwonder, and ask questions," said Eloise. "Don't let me detain you in anyway. I'll just sit here on the piazza."
"Not play? Nonsense!" returned Mr. Evringham brusquely.
"Please don't feel obliged"--Eloise began humbly.
"But I can't help being obliged if you'll play with me," interrupted hercompanion.
Some men observed the confidential attitude of the broker and thebeautiful girl. "What's doing over there?" asked one. "Is Evringhambeginning to take notice?"
"Why, don't you know?" returned the other. "That's his granddaughter."
"His daughter, do you mean? Didn't know he had one."
"Not a bit of it. She's Lawrence's stepdaughter."
The other shook his head. "That's too involved for me. She's a queen,anyway."
"Going to marry Ballard, they say."
"That so? Then I won't go up and fall on Evringham's neck. My bank bookisn't in Ballard's class. She can play, too," as he observed Eloisemake a drive while she waited the reappearance of her companion fromthe clubhouse. "Isn't that a bird!--and say, there's young Lochinvarhimself!" for here a light automobile whizzed briskly up to theclubhouse.
Dr. Ballard sprang out, for he had recognized the figure at the firstteeing ground.
"You gave me the slip!" he cried as he approached.
"Oh, I just went with a handsomer man," returned Eloise, smiling, asthey shook hands.
"I didn't know I could come until the last minute, then I went to thehouse for you and found I had missed you."
Mr. Evringham and the caddy approached. "I cut you out for once,Ballard," he said. "Well, we're off, Eloise. I saw you drive. I doubt ifhe catches us."
Jewel: A Chapter in Her Life Page 26