Mrs. Forbes was very much astonished and somewhat flattered. "It's wonderful, the fancy that child has taken to me and mine," she thought.
"Well, folks must be humored when they're sick," she replied. "Let me see," looking at the little clock, "yes, Mr. Evringham's missed the second train. There'll be five or ten minutes yet, and 'Zekiel's got to wait anyway. I guess he can come up and see you."
"Oh, thank you, Mrs. Forbes!" returned Jewel.
The housekeeper made her way out to the barn, where her son in his livery was waiting and reading the paper.
"The doctor's gone, Zeke, and the child wants to see you."
"Me?" returned the coachman in surprise. "Why the bully little kid!"
"Yes, come and be quick. There won't be much time. You watch the clock that's side of her bed, and don't you be late."
'Zekiel followed with alacrity. His mother, starting him up the backstairs, gave him directions how to go, and remained below.
Jewel, her eyes fixed on the open back door of her room, felt a leap of the heart as Zeke, fine in his handsome livery, came blushing and tiptoeing into the room.
"I'm so glad, I'm so glad!" she exclaimed in her soft, thick voice. "Shut the door, please."
"I told you to remember you'd only got to say 'Zeke' and I'd come," he said, approaching the bed. "I'm awful sorry you're sick, little kid."
"Did you ever hear of Christian Science, Zeke?" she asked hurriedly.
"Yes, I did. Woman I knew in Boston cured of half a dozen things. She held that Christian Science did it."
"Oh, good, good. I'm a Christian Scientist, and nobody here is, and I want to send a telegram to Chicago, to a lady to treat me. Nobody would do it for me but you. _Will_ you?"
It would have taken a hard heart to resist the appeal, and Zeke's was soft.
"Of course I will," he answered. "Going right to the station now to take Mr. Evringham. I can send it as well as not."
"Get some paper, Zeke, in the top bureau drawer. There's a pencil on the bureau."
He obeyed, and she gave him an address which he wrote down. "Now this: 'Please treat me for fever and sore throat. Jewel.'"
Zeke wrote the message and tucked it into a pocket.
"Now please get my leather bag in the drawer," said the child, "and take out money enough."