“Is that you, grandpa?” asked the sweet voice.

“Oh, well, I want to see Mr. Evringham.”

“What?  No.  I’m sorry, but nobody will do but grandpa.  You tell him it’s Jewel, please.”

“What?  I thought I did speak plain.  It’s Jewel; his little grandchild.”

The little girl smiled at the next response.  “Yes, I’m the very one that ate the Nesselrode pudding,” she said, and chuckled into the ’phone.

By this time even Julia had given up all thought of interfering, and was watching, curiously, the round head with its untidy blond hair.

Jewel spoke again.  “I’m sorry I can’t tell you the business, but it’s very important.”

Evidently the earnestness of this declaration had an effect.  After a minute more of waiting, the child’s face lighted.

“Oh, grandpa, is that you?”

“Yes, I am.  I’m so sorry I slept too long!”

“Yes, I know you missed me, and now I have to eat my breakfast without you.  Why didn’t you come and bring me downstairs?”

“Oh, but I would have.  Did you feel very sorry when you got in the brougham, grandpa?”

“I know it.  Did the ride seem very long, all alone?”

“Yes, indeed.  I felt so sorry inside when I found you’d gone, I had to hear you speak so as to get better so I could visit with mother and father.”

“Yes, it is a comfort.  Are you sure you don’t feel sorry now?”

“Well, but are you smiling, grandpa?”

Whatever the answer was to this, it made Jewel’s anxious brows relax and she laughed into the ’phone.

“Grandpa, you’re such a joker!  One smile won’t make you any fatter,” she protested.

Another listening silence, then:—­

“You know the reason I feel the worst, don’t you?”

“Why yes, you do.  What we were talking about yesterday.”  The child sighed.  “Well, isn’t it a comfort about eternity?”

“Yes, indeed, and I guess I’ll kiss the ’phone now, grandpa.  Can you hear me?”

“Well, you do it, too, then.  Yes—­yes—­I hear it; and you’ll come home early because you know—­our secret?”

“What?  A lot of men waiting for you?  All right.  You know I love you just the same, even if I did sleep, don’t you?”

“Good-by, then, good-by.”

She hung up the receiver and turned a beaming face upon her dumbfounded parents.

“Now I’ll have breakfast,” she said cheerfully.  “I’ll only eat a little because we must go out and see Star.  You waited for me, didn’t you?” pausing in sudden apprehension.

“Yes, indeed,” replied Harry, collecting himself.  “We haven’t been off the piazza.”

“Goody.  I’m so glad.  I’ll hurry.”

Mrs. Forbes followed the child as she bounded away, and the father and mother sank upon an old settle of Flemish oak, gazing at one another.  The veil having been completely lifted from their eyes, each was viewing recent circumstances in a new light.