r and child Dr. Lively had been
keeping up an unflagging by-play, searching persistently every part
of the dining-room--the mantelpiece, the clock, the cupboard, the
shelves.

"In the name of common sense," exclaimed the wife, after watching him
a moment, "what's the use of looking in that knife-basket? Shouldn't
I have seen it when I set the table if it had been there? Do you think
I'm blind? Where did you lose your purse?"

"If I knew where I lost it I'd go and get it."

"Well, where did you have it when you missed it?"

"As well as I can remember I didn't have it when I missed it."

"Well, where did you have it before you missed it?"

"In my pocket."

"Oh yes, this is a pretty time to joke, when my heart is breaking!
I shouldn't be surprised to hear of your laughing at my grave. Very
well, if you won't tell me where you've been with your purse, I can't
help you look for it; and what's more, I won't, and you'll never find
it unless I do, Dr. Lively: I can tell you that. You never were known
to find anything."

"Not there," said Napoleon re-entering the room and reseating himself
at the table. "Milk, please," he continued, extending his cup toward
his mother.

"You ain't going to eating again?" cried the lady.

"Am."

"Where _do_ you put it all? I believe in my soul--Are your legs
hollow?"

"Dunno."

"Do, my dear," remonstrated Dr. Lively, "let the child eat all he
wants. You keep up an everlasting nagging, as though you begrudged him
every mouthful he swallows."

"Oh, it's fine of you to talk, when you lose all the money that comes
into the family--five thousand dollars in Chicago, and sixty dollars
now, for I'll warrant you hadn't paid out a cent of it; and all
those accounts against us! Had you paid any bills? had you? You won't
answer, but you needn't think to escape and deceive me by such a
shallow trick. If you'd paid a bill you'd been keen enough to tell it:
you'd have shouted it out long ago. Pretty management! Just like you,
shiftless! Why in the name of the five senses didn't you pay out the
money before you lost the purse? You might have known you were going
to lose it: you always lose everything."

"Bread, please," called Napoleon, who had taken advantage of the
confusion to sweep the bread-plate clean.

"In the name of wonder!" exclaimed the mother, snatching a half loaf
from the pantry. "There! take it and eat it, and burst--Do," she
continued, turning to Dr. Lively, "stop your tram