第78章 MUTUAL SURPRISES(1)

"I thought I knew Bel-Air Park,"said Bonnell looking about him."Inever suspected this."

"Jewel is the Columbus of this spot.She has named it the Ravine of Happiness."Nat looked at his speaker."That's rather ambiguous.Does she mean where happiness is buried or where it is found?"Eloise smiled."Jewel never buries any happiness.Well,how is everybody,Nat?Your mother,first of all.""Didn't Mrs.Evringham tell you?"

The girl's face clouded with apprehension at his surprised tone."No.

You will think it very strange,but poor mamma was under such excitement,you must pardon her.Everything went out of her head.

Don't tell me that dear Mrs.Bonnell"--she lowered her voice--"that you have lost her!"He shook his head."No,I've gained her.She's well.""Well!"repeated the girl amazed."Why,what do you mean?How glorious!How long since?""About three months."

"I am so glad!Tell me more good news.Tell me about your own frivoling,and then I shall hear about the other people."The young man shook his head."I observed Lent this year scrupulously,and I haven't changed my tactics since Easter.I've been keeping my nose to the grindstone.Began to see things a little differently,Eloise.I decided it was mother's innings--decided to drop the butterfly and do the bee act.""Is it possible!"The girl laughed."Will wonders never cease!What was the matter?Did the heiresses cut you?""I cut the whole thing,and I have my reward.I suppose your mother didn't tell you that,either.I'm going into business with Mr.Reeves.

Do you know him?Jewel does."He smiled toward the child,who lifted an interested face.

"Yes,I do,"she said."You remember about him,cousin Eloise.""Certainly."The girl looked at her friend questioningly.

"I'm spending this week at his house."

"And you know about Jewel?He has told you?"

"Certainly.The one person of his acquaintance who hasn't to unlearn anything.""You mean he talked to you of Christian Science?"Bonnell's hands were clasping his knees.His hat lay on the bank beside him and the thick hair tossed away from his brow.He nodded slowly,wondering at the sudden attentive interest of her look.

"Yes,"he replied."We talked on the tabooed subject.""Tabooed with whom?You?"she asked disappointedly.

"No,with you I understand."

Color flew into Eloise's face."Who told you that?Mother of course."Bonnell nodded,giving a fleeting glance toward the child,who was again busy at her excavation.

"Are congratulations in order,Eloise?"he asked quietly.

"Yes,congratulations."Her eyes grew full of light."For I have come to see the truth.That child has shown me."The young man's lips remained apart for a second in his surprise at this declaration,after Mrs.Evringham's detailed representations.

"Then I may tell you how my mother was healed,"he said at last.

"Oh,was it really so?"

"Yes."

"And you,Nat?"Unconsciously Eloise leaned her whole body toward him,supporting her hand on the ground."You know about it yourself?You understand?""Yes."

"And you believe in it?"

"With all my heart."

Her face shone."Oh,Jewel,do you hear?Mr.Bonnell is a Scientist."The girl's breathing was hastened.Her eyes were like stars.

The child sank back from her work and regarded the visitor,smiling.

She was glad,but she was not astonished.In her world a great many young men had found the key to life,but to Eloise it was something wonderful.She looked at her old friend as if she had never seen him before.She reviewed all she knew of his gay life with its background of suffering.

"Do you study the lessons?"she asked incredulously."You?""Every day.I am surprised beyond measure to find you interested,for your mother told me--And the doctor--?""Is a very fine man,"returned Eloise gravely,as he paused.

Bonnell's mental questions were answered by her manner.He put his hand in the pocket of his sack coat and drew out a small,thin,black book.

Eloise took it."'Unity of Good,'"she read on its cover."I haven't seen this one,"she said eagerly.

"You will,"he replied.

She looked up."Do you know,I thought just now you were going to take out your pipe?"she said naively."That's where you used to keep it.""My pipe doesn't like me any more,"he rejoined quietly.

"Are you happy,Nat?"she asked,scrutinizing his face with childlike,searching eyes.

"I was never a very solemn codger,was I?"he returned.

"But are you happier?Does the world look different?Of course it does,with your mother well.""Oh yes,"he answered in a changed tone,tossing his head back,and making a gesture as of throwing away something."There was nothing in it before,nothing in it.""Yes,yes,I know,"she returned comprehendingly.

Jewel had watched them,and now,as they paused,her voice broke the silence in which the two friends looked into each other's faces.

"Cousin Eloise is going to church with me on Sunday,"she announced.

"Oh,certainly."Bonnell smiled."Wednesday evening meetings and all now,Eloise.Haven't you attended yet?""No,I've only just learned.I've only just seen.I'm only beginning to see,Nat.Your mother was healed.Oh,it is true,isn't it!It's so wonderful to find that you,you,know more about it than I do,when I supposed you would scorn it.I can't help expecting to wake up.""That is just what you will do,"returned Bonnell."You will waken--to a thousand things.So your mother objects.""Poor little mother,"returned Eloise,looking down with sudden sadness.

"My mother wants you and yours to make us a long visit at View Point this summer."The girl's lovely eyes raised hopefully."The best thing that could happen,"she exclaimed.

"I think so,"responded her companion.

When Mr.Evringham returned from golf that afternoon,only his daughter-in-law was in sight.She inclined her head toward him with the air of a Lady Macbeth.

"Have you seen anything of the girls?"she asked as he approached her.

"Nothing.Where are they?"