Now will you please do something for ours ?" "Certainly," said Selwyn, looking about him vaguely; "shall we--er--build blocks, or shall I read to you--er--out of that big picture-book--" "_Picture_-book!" repeated Billy with scorn; "that's good enough for nurses to read.

You're a soldier, you know.

Soldiers have real stories to tell." "I see," he said meekly.

"What am I to tell you about--our missionaries in Sulu ?" "In the first place," began Drina, "you are to lie down flat on the floor and creep about and show us how the Moros wriggle through the grass to bolo our sentinels." "Why, it's--it's this way," began Selwyn, leaning back in his rocking-chair and comfortably crossing one knee over the other; "for instance, suppose--" "Oh, but you must _show_ us!" interrupted Billy.

"Get down on the floor please, uncle." "I can tell it better!" protested Selwyn; "I can show you just the--" "Please lie down and show us how they wriggle ?" begged Drina.
"I don't want to get down on the floor," he said feebly; "is it necessary ?" But they had already discovered that he could be bullied, and they had it their own way; and presently Selwyn lay prone upon the nursery floor, impersonating a ladrone while pleasant shivers chased themselves over Drina, whom he was stalking.
And it was while all were passionately intent upon the pleasing and snake-like progress of their uncle that a young girl in furs, ascending the stairs two at a time, peeped perfunctorily into the nursery as she passed the hallway--and halted amazed.
Selwyn, sitting up rumpled and cross-legged on the floor, after having boloed Drina to everybody's exquisite satisfaction, looked around at the sudden rustle of skirts to catch a glimpse of a vanishing figure--a glimmer of ruddy hair and the white curve of a youthful face, half-buried in a muff.
Mortified, he got to his feet, glanced out into the hallway, and began adjusting his attire.
"No, you don't!" he said mildly, "I decline to perform again.