dine in?" demanded Livingstone.

"Yes, sir. We had dinner ready, only--as you were so late we thought
perhaps you were dining at the club. You had not said anything about
dining out."

Livingstone glanced at the clock. It was half-past eight. He had had no
idea it was so late. He had forgotten how late it was when he left his
office, and the walk through the snow had been slow. He was hopelessly
in the wrong.

Just then there was a scurry in the hall outside and the squeak of
childish voices. James coughed and turned quickly towards the door.

Livingstone wanted an outlet.

"What is that?" he asked, sharply.

James cleared his throat nervously. The squeak came again--this time
almost a squeal.

"Whose children are those?" demanded Livingstone.

"Ahem! I thinks they's the laundress's, sir. They just came around this
evening--"

Livingstone cut him short.

"Well! I--!" He was never nearer an outbreak, but he controlled himself.

"Go down and send them and her off immediately; and you--" He paused,
closed his lips firmly, and changed his speech. "I wish some dinner," he
said coldly.

"Yes, sir."

James had reached the door when he turned.

"Shall you be dining at home to-morrow, sir?" he asked, quietly.

"Yes, of course," said Livingstone, shortly. "And I don't want to see
any one to-night, no matter who comes. I am tired." He had forgotten
Clark.

"Yes, sir."

The butler withdrew noiselessly, and Livingstone sank back in his chair.
But before the butler was out of hearing Livingstone recalled him.

"I don't want any dinner."

"Can have it for you directly, sir," said James, persuasively.

"I say I don't want any."

James came a little closer and gave his master a quick glance.

"Are you feeling bad, sir?" he asked.

"No, I only want to be let alone. I shall go out presently to the club."

This time James withdrew entirely.

What happened when James passed through the door which separated his
domain from his master's was not precisely what Livingstone had
commanded. What the tall butler did was to gather up in his arms two
very plump little tots who at sight of him came running to him with
squeals of joy, flinging themselves on him, and choking him with their
chubby arms, to the imminent imperiling of his immaculate linen.

Taking them both up together, James bore them off quietly to some remote
region where he filled their little mouths full of delightful candy
which kept their little j