Surely aunt Madge and cousin Eloise would look in before they went out
to their engagement. Mother had so often said how nice it was that they
were there. Surely they didn't know that she had arrived. That was it,
of course; and Mrs. Forbes was so sorry and anxious she would probably
forget to tell them.

Some altercation was just then going on in the apartments of those
ladies.

"We ought to speak to her before we go," said Mrs. Evringham
persuasively. "Father would probably resent it if we didn't."

"I have told you already," returned Eloise, "that I do not intend doing
one thing henceforward that grandfather could interpret as being done to
please him."

"But that is carrying it ridiculously far, not to greet your cousin, who
has come from a journey and is your guest."

"My guest!" returned the girl derisively. "We are hers more likely. I
will not go to her. The sooner grandfather sends us away the better."

Mrs. Evringham looked worried.

"This is mania, Eloise!" she returned coaxingly. "Very well, I shall go
and speak to the child. She shan't be able to tell her grandfather of
any rudeness."

In a few minutes Jewel, sitting by her window, Anna Belle in her lap,