o his eyes and then laughing
down at the ground--"you see I'm the only married daughter to help mamma."

"But you've been helping all the morning," he complained, "and besides how
can you help? One would think that your mother was beating eggs or turning
mattresses."

"I have to work harder than that," said Mrs. Rosscott; "I have to make
people know one another and like one another and not all want to make love
to the same girl."

"You can't help their all wanting to make love to the same girl," said
Jack; "the more you try to convince them of their folly the deeper in love
they are bound to fall. I'm an illustration of that myself."

Mrs. Rosscott looked at him then and curved her mouth sweetly.

"You do say such pretty things," she said. "I don't see how you've learned
so much in so little time. Why, General Jiggs in there is three times your
age and he tangles himself awfully when he tries to be sweet."

"Perhaps his physician has recommended gymnastics," said Jack.

"Perhaps," said Mrs. Rosscott laughing, and then she turned as if to go
in.

"Oh, don't," said her lover, barring the way with great suddenness; "you
really mustn't, you know. I've been patient for so long and been good for
so long and I must be rewarded--I really must. Do come out with me
somewhere--anywhere--for only a half-hour,--please."

She looked at him.

"Won't Maude do?" she asked.

"No, she won't," he said beneath his breath; "whatever do you suggest such
a thing for? You make me ready to tell you to your face that you want to
go as bad as I want you to go, but I shan't say so because I know too
much."

"You do know a lot, don't you?" said she, with an expression of great
respect; "why, if you were to dare to hint to me that I wanted to go out
with you instead of staying in and talking Rembrandt with Mr. Morley, I'd
never forgive you the longest day I live."

"I know you wouldn't," said he, "and you may be quite sure that I shall
not say it. On the contrary I shall merely implore you to forget your own
pleasure in consideration of mine."

"I really ought to devote the morning to Mr. Morley," she said
meditatively; "it's such an honor his coming here, you know."

"A little bit of a whiskered monkey," said Jack in great disgust; "an
honor, indeed!"

"He's a very great man," said Mrs. Rosscott; "every sort of institution
has given him a few letters to put after his name, and some have given him
whole syllables."

"You must ge