been in a
position where my own boots had seemed so all-pervading. The next moment
I lost my boots, and stopped the carpet with my head just as it was
rushing past me. At the same instant something hit me violently in the
small of the back. Reason, when recovered, suggested that my assailant
must be the rocking-chair.

Investigation proved the surmise correct. Fortunately I was still alone,
and in consequence was able, a few minutes later, to meet my hostess
with calm and dignity. I said nothing about the rocking-chair. As a
matter of fact, I was hoping to have the pleasure, before I went, of
seeing some other guest arrive and sample it: I had purposely replaced
it in the most prominent and convenient position. But though I felt
capable of schooling myself to silence, I found myself unable to agree
with my hostess when she called for my admiration of the thing. My
recent experiences had too deeply embittered me.

"Willie made it himself," explained the fond mother. "Don't you think it
was very clever of him?"

"Oh yes, it was clever," I replied, "I am willing to admit that."

"He made it out of some old beer barrels," she continued; she seemed
proud of it.

My resentment, though I tried to keep it under control, was mounting
higher.

"Oh! did he?" I said; "I should have thought he might have found
something better to do with them."

"What?" she asked.

"Oh! well, many things," I retorted. "He might have filled them again
with beer."

My hostess looked at me astonished. I felt some reason for my tone was
expected.

"You see," I explained, "it is not a well-made chair. These rockers are
too short, and they are too curved, and one of them, if you notice, is
higher than the other and of a smaller radius; the back is at too obtuse
an angle. When it is occupied the centre of gravity becomes--"

My hostess interrupted me.

"You have been sitting on it," she said.

"Not for long," I assured her.

Her tone changed. She became apologetic.

"I am so sorry," she said. "It looks all right."

"It does," I agreed; "that is where the dear lad's cleverness displays
itself. Its appearance disarms suspicion. With judgment that chair might
be made to serve a really useful purpose. There are mutual
acquaintances of ours--I mention no names, you will know them--pompous,
self-satisfied, superior persons who would be improved by that chair.
If I were Willie I should disguise the mechanism with some artistic
drapery, bait