"Pray, pray, do not overfatigue yourself, Emma! That child is too heavy for you," he objected, as the babe made strenuous efforts to kick itself to its feet.

"You know I do not approve of you carrying it yourself." "Nurse is drinking tea." "But why do I keep a houseful of domestics if one of the others cannot occasionally take her place ?" He made an impetuous step towards the bell.

Before he could reach it there came a thumping at the door, and a fluty voice cried: "Lemme in, puppa, lemme in!" Turnham threw the door open, and admitted a sturdy two-year-old, whom he led forward by the hand.

"My son," he said, not without pride.
Mahony would have coaxed the child to him; but it ran to its mother, hid its face in her lap.
Forgetting the bell John struck an attitude.

"What a picture!" he exclaimed.