Then, administering a sickly grin, he sought to bring his wits up to the requirements of the extraordinary situation.

He lifted his hand and mumbled: "Come, Raggles! I haven't a biscuit, but here, have a roll, do.

Give me a--a kiss!" He added the last in most heroic surrender.
The nurse and the maid stared hard at him; the baby turned in affright to cling closely to the neck of the former.
"Good Lord, sir," whispered the nurse, with a nervous glance about her; "this ain't Raggles, sir.

_This_ is a baby." "Do you think I'm blind, madam ?" whispered he, savagely.

"I can see it's a baby, but I didn't know there was to be one.