The housekeeper warned Jewel not to run out of doors that morning as she wished to accompany her to the shoe store.
"I'm not going to take you,Anna Belle,"Jewel said to her doll."Idon't like to ask the giantess if I may,and of course,it won't be a very good time anyway,so you be patient and we'll go out together this afternoon."Mrs.Forbes's long widow's veil,a decoration she never had discarded hung low over her black gown as she stepped deliberately down the stairs from her barn chamber.
"I am going with the little girl,Zeke,to buy her a pair of rubbers,"she announced to her son.
"Going foot-back?Why don't you have out the 'broom'?One granddaughter's got as good a right to it as the other,hasn't she?""I should say so,but that child,Zeke,in addition to her wonderful boldness this morning with Mr.Evringham,that I told you about,is perfectly crazy over horses.""H'm.That don't surprise me.A young one that can stand up to the governor wouldn't be afraid of anything in the way of horseflesh.""So I decided,"continued Mrs.Forbes,pulling on her roomy black gloves,"that it would be better for her to go this morning in the trolley.""You did?Well if that ain't a regular step-mother act!"returned Zeke in protest."The kid had a bully time coming home from the depot yesterday.Dick felt good,and he just lit out.I tell you her eyes shone.""I like to do what's best for folks in the end,"declared Mrs.Forbes virtuously."Julia's parents are poor,and likely to be.She's only going to be here six weeks,and what is the sense of encouraging a taste she can't ever indulge?No,I'll take her in the trolley.It's a nice morning,and I shan't mind the walk down to the gate."The speaker marched with the dignity which was always inseparable from the veil toward the back door of the house to give some last orders,and Zeke lounged out with his rake toward the grounds at the front.There he caught sight of a small figure in hat and jacket waiting on the piazza.He turned toward it,and Jewel advanced with a smile of recognition.She had had to look twice to identify her fine plum-colored companion of yesterday's drive with this youth in shirt sleeves and a soft old hat.
"Well,little girl,how are you getting on?"he asked.
"Pretty well,thank you."Her beaming expression left no doubt that she was very glad to see him.
"Not particularly flattering if she is,"he mused."Fine ladies not out of their rooms yet,and ma doin'her duty by her to beat the band.""Where's your doll?"he asked.
"I didn't bring her.I thought perhaps the--Mrs.Forbes would--would just as lief she didn't come.""Ma hasn'tplayed with dolls for quite a spell,"agreed Zeke,with a smile that was sunshine to the child.
"You live out in the barn with the horses,don't you?"she asked eagerly."Will you give me permission to go out there some time?""Sure.Come any time."
"Mrs.Forbes said I must ask permission,"responded the child with an apprehensive glance behind her to see if her escort were arriving.
"What--what is your name?"
"Forgotten this soon?I told you Zeke."
"I thought you did,but your mother said it was something very different.""Ezekiel,perhaps."
"Yes,that's it.I won't forget again.How many horses has grandpa?""Two here,but I guess he's got more in the country.You come out to the barn any time you feel like it.You've heard of a bell cow,haven't you?Well,we've got the belle horse out there.She beats all creation.""The one I saw yesterday,"eagerly,"the one that runs away all the time?""No.This is Mr.Evringham's riding horse."
Jewel hopped and clapped her hands."I'll see grandpa ride.Goody!
I'll watch him."
"Go to your paths,Zeke,"said a voice,and the veil appeared around the corner of the house.
Jewel quietly joined her stately companion,and walked away sedately beside her.
They did not exchange many words on their way to the park gates,for Mrs.Forbes needed her breath for the rather long promenade,and Jewel was busy looking at the trees and trim swards and crocus beds beside the winding road.
Outside the gate they had to wait but a minute before the car came,and after they had boarded it,the little girl was entertained by looking out of the window,and often wished for Anna Belle's sympathy in some novel sight or sound.
A ride of fifteen minutes brought them to the shoe store.Mrs.Forbes seemed to know the clerk,and Jewel was finally fitted to her guardian's satisfaction,but scarcely to her own,the housekeeper having selected the species known as storm rubbers,and chose them as large as would stay on.
"They're quite warm,aren't they?"said Jewel,looking down at her shiny feet and trying to speak cheerfully.
"When you wear them you want to be warm,"was Mrs.Forbes's rejoinder.
"I brought my money,"said the child,in a low voice.
"No.Your grandfather wishes to make you a present of these."The housekeeper's tone was final,and she paid for the overshoes,which were wrapped up,and then she led Jewel out of the store.
Next door was a candy shop with alluring windows.
"I'd like to go in here,"said the little girl."Would you mind?""Do you spend your money for candy,Julia?"
"Yes'm.Don't you like it?"Jewel lingered,looking at the pretty display.Easter had recently passed,and there were bright-eyed little yellow chickens that especially took her fancy.
"It isn't a question of liking it when people are poor,"returned Mrs.
Forbes."I'm astonished that your mother encourages you to spend money for candy."Jewel looked up quickly."Did you think we were poor?"she asked,with disconcerting suddenness.
Mrs.Forbes hesitated."Your mother is a dressmaker,isn't she?""Yes,she's just a splendid one.Everybody says so.We couldn't be poor,you know.She found out about God before I was old enough to talk,so you see all her poor time came before I can remember."The housekeeper glanced about her furtively."Julia,don't you know you shouldn't use your Creator's name on the street!"she exclaimed,when she had made certain that no one was listening.
