第26章 A SHOPPING EXPEDITION(2)

"Why not?"asked the child.

"Why--why--it isn't a proper place.Some one might hear you.""Well,won't you let me get some candy now?If I knew what kind you liked,Mrs.Forbes,I'd get it.""I don't eat candy as a rule.It's not only extravagant,it's very unhealthy."The little girl smiled."How do you suppose your stomach knows what you put into it?"she asked."I guess you're just a little--bit--afraid,aren't you?"

"Odder than Dick's hatband!"quoth Mrs.Forbes again,mentally."Itake horehound drops sometimes,"she said aloud,"for a cold.""Can't you sneeze a little now?"asked Jewel,amusement twinkling in her blue eyes."I do want so much to go in here.""Don't tempt Providence by making fun of sickness,Julia,or you'll live to regret it,"returned Mrs.Forbes."I don't mind getting some horehound drops,but be careful now and don't spend too much.A little girl's money always burns in her pocket.""Yes'm,"returned the child dutifully,skipping up to the door of the shop and opening it.

Mrs.Forbes followed slowly,and once inside,fell into conversation with the girl of whom she bought the cough candy.This gave Jewel opportunity to buy beside her caramels one of the lovely yellow chickens,which she designed for a special purpose.

"Now don't you eat that candy before lunch.It will take away your appetite.It is nearly lunch time now,"said Mrs.Forbes as they left the store.

"And won't you either?"asked the child,offering the open caramel bag with a spontaneous politeness which somehow made the housekeeper feel at a disadvantage.

"No,thank you.Stop that car,Julia,and make them wait for me,"she said,making haste slowly.

Once within,it took Mrs.Forbes a minute or two to get her breath,but she soon noticed that her companion's eyes were fixed upon a man seated a little way from them across the car.A smile kept coming to the child's lips,and at last the gentleman himself recognized that he was an object of interest.He looked at the strange little girl kindly.Her hand went unconsciously to the small gold pin she wore.

The man smiled and touched one of similar pattern which was fastening his tie.In a minute more his street was reached,and as he passed Jewel on his way out of the car,he stooped and gave her ready hand a little pressure.

She colored with pleasure,and Mrs.Forbes swelled with curiosity and disapproval.She knew the man by sight as a highly respectable citizen.What was this wild Western child doing now?The car made too much noise to permit of investigation,so she waited until they had left it and entered the park gates.

"Julia,"she said then,"where did you ever see that gentleman before?""I never did,"replied the child.

"What do you mean by such bold actions,then?What will he think of you?""He'll think it's all right,"returned Jewel."We have the same--the same friends."The housekeeper looked at her.It was beneath her dignity to ask further questions at present,but some time she meant to renew the subject.

"It's very wrong for a little girl to take any notice of strangers,"she said.

"Yes'm,"replied Jewel,"but he was--different."Mrs.Forbes maintained silence henceforth until they reached home.

"You may hang your hat and jacket in the closet under the stairs whenever you don't wish to go to your room,"she said when she parted with her companion at the piazza,"but don't wander away anywhere before lunch.""No'm.Thank you for taking me,Mrs.Forbes.""You're welcome,"returned that lady,and the long black veil swept majestically toward the barn.

Sweet and rippling music was proceeding from the house.Jewel tiptoed across the piazza to a long window,from whence she could see the interior of the drawing-room.

"It is the enchanted maiden,"she said to herself,and sank down softly by the window,listening eagerly to the melodious strains and smooth runs which flowed from beneath the slender fingers.One piece followed another in quick succession,now gay,now grave,and the listener scarcely stirred in her enjoyment.