he did just now he could refuse her nothing.

He stood in profound meditation for a minute or two.

"What is it you want, John?" she said. "Oh! and what do you think?
I have just found another tooth, a double one--come and look."

He came, half unwillingly, and stuck his little finger into his infant
son's mouth.

Esther guided it till it felt a tiny, hard substance. "The third,"
she said proudly; "aren't you pleased?"

"Hum!" he said. Then he meditated a little longer, and after a
minute or two rubbed his hands as if he was quite pleased with
himself.

"Put on your hat, Esther, and the General's," he said, patting that
young gentleman's head affectionately. "Let us go down to the river
for a stroll; the children are down there picnicking, so we can be
sure of some tea."

"Why, yes, that will be very nice," she said, "won't it Bababsie,
won't it, sweet son?"

She called to Martha, who was dusting the drawing-room in a cheerfully
blind way peculiarly hers.

"The General's hat, please, Martha, the white sun-hat with strings;
it's on my bed, I think, or a chair or somewhere--oh! and bring
down my large one with the poppies in, as well, please."

Martha departed, and, after a little search, returned with the
headgear.

And Esther tied the white sun-hat over her own curly, crinkly hair,
and made the General crow with laughing from his seat on the hall
table. And then she popped it on the Captain's head, and put the
cabbage-tree on her son's, and occupied several minutes thus in pretty
play.

Finally they were ready, and moved down the hall.

"Master Bunty is locked in his room; on no account open the door,
Martha," was the Captain's last command.

"Oh, Jack!" Esther said reproachfully.

"Oblige me by not interfering," he said; "allow me a little
liberty with my own children, Esther. He is an untruthful little
vagabond; I am ashamed to own him for my son."

And Esther, reflecting on the many shiftinesses of her stepson, was
able to console herself with the hope that it would do him good.

They went a shortcut through the bush to avoid the public road, and
the blue, sun-kissed, laughing river stretched before them.

"There they are," Esther cried, "in the old place, as usual, look
at the fire, little sweet son; see the smoke, boy bonny--four--five
of them. Why, who have they got with them?" she said in surprise,
as they drew nearer the group on the grass.

Before they were close enough to reco