s it was only utter weariness, or lack of breath. Whatever
the cause, the wailing sobs from the bundle in his arms dwindled
suddenly to a gentle whisper, then ceased altogether.

With a ray of hope illuminating his drawn countenance, Cyril carefully
laid the baby down and picked up the other. Almost confidently now he
began the jouncing and teetering and rocking as before.

"There, there! Oh, come, come, pretty baby, good baby, hush, hush," he
chanted again.

This time he was not so successful. Perhaps he had lost his skill.
Perhaps it was merely the world-old difference in babies. At all events,
this infant did not care for jerks and jounces, and showed it plainly by
emitting loud and yet louder wails of rage--wails in which his brother
on the couch speedily joined.

"Oh, come, come, pretty baby, good baby, hush, hush--_confound it_,
HUSH, I say!" exploded the frightened, weary, baffled, distracted man,
picking up the other baby, and trying to hold both his sons at once.

Billy hurried forward then, tearfully, remorsefully, her face all
sympathy, her arms all tenderness.

"Here, Cyril, let me help you," she cried.

Cyril turned abruptly.

"Thank God, _some_ one's come," he groaned, holding out both the babies,
with an exuberance of generosity. "Billy, you've saved my life!"

Billy laughed tremulously.

"Yes, I've come, Cyril, and I'll help every bit I can; but I don't know
a thing--not a single thing about them myself. Dear me, aren't they
cunning? But, Cyril, do they always cry so?"

The father-of-an-hour drew himself stiffly erect.

"Cry? What do you mean? Why shouldn't they cry?" he demanded
indignantly. "I want you to understand that Doctor Brown said those were
A number I fine boys! Anyhow, I guess there's no doubt they've got
lungs all right," he added, with a grim smile, as he pulled out his
handkerchief and drew it across his perspiring brow.

Billy did not have an opportunity to show Cyril how much or how little
she knew about babies, for in another minute the maid had appeared with
the extra nurse; and that young woman, with trained celerity and easy
confidence, assumed instant command, and speedily had peace and order
restored.

Cyril, freed from responsibility, cast longing eyes, for a moment, upon
his work; but the next minute, with a despairing glance about him, he
turned and fled precipitately.

Billy, following the direction of his eyes, suppressed a smile. On the
top of Cyril's manus