As Dr.Ballard leaned back in his chair to wait,he looked up at Mr.
Evringham."It is very gratifying,"he said,"to find these conditions at this hour of the day.I felt a little more uneasy this morning than I confessed."He nodded in satisfactory thought."I grant you medicine is not an exact science,it is an art,an art.You can't prescribe by hard and fast rules.You must take into consideration the personal equation."Presently he leaned forward and removed the thermometer.His eyes smiled as he read it,and he lifted it toward Mr.Evringham.
"I can't see it,boy."
"Well,there's nothing to see.She hasn't a particle of temperature.
Look here,little one,"frowning at Jewel,"if everybody recovered as quickly as you have,where would we doctors be?"Turning again and addressing Mr.Evringham,he went on,"I'm particularly interested in this result because that is a remedy over which there has been some altercation.There's one man to whom I shall be glad to relate this experience."The doctor leaned toward his little patient."Jewel,I'm not so surprised as I might be at your improvement,"he said kindly."You will have to excuse me for a little righteous deception.I put medicine into that glass of water,and now you're glad I did,aren't you?I'd like you to tell me,little girl,as near as you can,how often you took it?""I didn't take it,"replied the child.
Dr.Ballard drew back a little."You mean,"he said after a moment,"you took it only once?""No,sir,I didn't take it at all."
There was a silence,during which all could hear the ticking of the clock on the table,and the three pairs eyes were fixed on Jewel with such varying expressions of amazement and disapproval that the child's breath began to come faster.
"Didn't you drink any of the water?"asked Dr.Ballard at last.
"Yes,out of the pitcher."
"Why not out of the glass?"
"It didn't look enough.I was so thirsty."
They could not doubt her.
Mr.Evringham finally found his voice.
"Jewel,why didn't you obey the doctor?"His eyes and voice were so serious that she stretched out her arm.
"Oh,grandpa,"she said,"please let me take hold of your hand.""No,not till you answer me.Little girls should be obedient."Jewel thought a minute.
"He said it wasn't medicine,so what was the use?"she asked.
Mr.Evringham,seeming to find an answer to this difficult,bit the end of his mustache.
Dr.Ballard was feeling his very ears grow red,while Mrs.Forbes's lips were set in a line of exasperation.
"Grandpa,"said Jewel,and the child's voice was very earnest,"there's a Bible over there on the table.You look in there in the Gospels,and you'll find everywhere how Jesus tells us to do what I've done.He said he must go away,but he would send the Comforter to us,and this book tells about the Comforter."Jewel took the copy of "Science and Health"from under the sheet.
"God's creation couldn't get sick.It's just His own image and likeness,so how could it?And when you can get right into God's love,what do you want of medicine to swallow?God wouldn't be omnipotent if He needed any help.You see I'm well.Isn't that all you want,grandpa?"The appeal of her eyes caused the broker to stir undecidedly."I never did have any use for doctors,"he thought,after the manner of many who,nevertheless,are eager to fly to the brotherhood for help at the first suggestion of pain.Moreover,the humor of the situation was beginning to dawn upon him,and he admired the fine temper and self-control with which the young physician pulled himself together and rose.
"Iam glad you are well,Jewel,very,"he said;"but the next time Iam called to prescribe for a little Christian Scientist I shall put the pellets on her tongue."He smiled as he took up his case and said good-by.
Mr.Evringham followed him down the stairs,heroically resisting the impulse to laugh.Only one remark he allowed himself as he bade the doctor good-by.
"You're quite right,Ballard,in your theory.Jewel has been here only three days,but I could have told you that in doing anything whatever for her,it is always absolutely necessary to consider the personal equation."
