ly than was usually the
case when it was Baby's small hands that were stretching up to reach
it--I rather think some one must have been behind to help him--the door
opened and--oh such a funny little figure came in! You know who it was
of course, but it would be very difficult to tell you exactly what he
looked like. He was dressed just as he had been for playing in the
garden--a little short thick jacket over his holland blouse, which was
no longer very clean; his short scarlet socks and oldest boots on his
legs, the bare part of which looked very red and cold, and what had been
his best straw hat with part of the brim dangling down, on his curly
head. But he seemed quite pleased with himself--that was another of
Herr Baby's "ways"; he always did seem quite pleased with himself, best
of all, I think, when he had his oldest clothes on--he trotted into the
room just as he would have trotted into the garden, even though there
were a good many rather finely-dressed ladies and gentlemen sitting
round--for his whole mind was filled with the thoughts of two big paper
parcels which he carried in his arms. They could not have been as heavy
as they were big, or else he could not possibly have carried them! And
close at his heels, making him look still funnier, came Minet, very
pleased, I am sure, to find herself again in sight of a fire.

Herr Baby looked round him for a moment, only for a moment, for though
the lights in the room and the number of people dazzled and puzzled him
a little, _he_ did not need to look round for which was mother.
Forgetting all about everything, except that her baby was found, up
jumped mother, a rosy flush coming over her face which had looked so
white and sad, pretty mother with her silvery silky dress and her sweet
eyes filled with tears, and rushing over to Baby caught him up in her
arms, poor little cold, tired, red-legged Herr Baby, and for a minute or
so, greatly to grandfather's surprise, she hid her face somehow among
the wee man's curls without speaking.

[Illustration: Forgetting all about everything, except that her baby
was found, up jumped mother.--P. 170.]

Grandfather was surprised but not alarmed, for just behind in the open
doorway stood auntie, who came quietly forward and explained to him that
Baby had gone out on his own account and they had been afraid of his
losing his way, that was what had kept her out so late, and she was _so_
sorry. Auntie had such a nice clear simple