hinks she is growing
handsomer, and so do I."

"Well, perhaps," said Rose, moving believe to examine Graeme critically;
"still I must warn her against future possibilities as to stoutness--and
other things."

"It is not the stoutness that displeases her, Fanny," said Graeme,
laughing; "it is the middle-aged look that is settling down upon me,
that she is discontented with."

"Fanny," said Rose, "don't contradict her. She says that on purpose to
be contradicted. A middle-aged look, is it? I dare say it is!"

"A look of contentment with things as they are," said Graeme. "There is
a look of expectation on most _young_ faces, you know, a hopeful look,
which too often changes to an anxious look, or look of disappointment,
as youth passes away. I mean, of course, with single women. I suppose
it is that with me; or, do I look as if I were settling down content
with things as they are?"

"Graeme," said her sister, "if some people were to speak like that in my
hearing, I should say it sounded a little like affectation."

"I hope it is not politeness, alone, which prevents you from saying it
to me?"

"But it is all nonsense, Graeme dear," said Fanny.

"How old are you, Graeme?" said Rose. "Middle-aged, indeed!"

"Rosie, does not ten years seem a long time, to look forward to? Shall
you not begin to think yourself middle-aged ten years hence?"

"Certainly not; by no means; I have no such intention, unless, indeed--.
But we won't speak about such unpleasant things. Fanny, shan't I take
the baby while you do that?"

"If you would like to take him," said Fanny, with some hesitation.

Baby was a subject on which Rose and Fanny had not quite come to a
mutual understanding. Rose was not so impressed with the wonderful
attractions of her son as Fanny thought she ought to be. Even Graeme
had been surprised at her indifference to the charms of her nephew, and
expostulated with her on the subject. But Rose had had a surfeit of
baby sweetness, and, after Hilda's strong, beautiful boys, Fanny's
little, delicate three months' baby was a disappointment to her, and she
made no secret of her amusement at the devotion of Graeme, and the
raptures of his mother over him. But now, as she took him in her arms,
she astonished them with such eloquence of baby-talk as baby had never
heard before. Fanny was delighted. Happily Graeme prevented the
question that trembled on her lips as to the comparative merits of her
nephews,