certainly begin to grow smaller again very soon. It wouldn't hardly be
respectable fer ye to do yer shrinkin' out here."

This view of the probabilities had not yet struck Phoebe.

"Why, no!" she exclaimed, rather startled. "I--I don't know's I thought
about it. But I certainly don't want Mr. Droop to see me when my clothes
begin to hang loose."

Then a new problem presented itself.

"Come to think of it, Rebecca," she said, dolefully, "what'll I do all
the time between full-grown and baby size? I didn't bring anything but
the littlest clothes, you know."

"Thet's so," said Rebecca, thoughtfully. Then, after a pause: "I don't
see but ye'll hev to stay abed, Phoebe, till we get to th' end," she
said, sympathetically.

"There it is," said Phoebe, crossly. "Gettin' sent to bed
a'ready--even before I expected it."

"But 'tain't that, Phoebe," said Rebecca, with great concern. "I ain't
sendin' ye to bed--but--but--whatever else _can_ ye do with a _man_ in
the house!"

"Nothin'," Phoebe replied, with a toss of her chin.

She crossed the room and held out her hand to Droop.

"Good-night, Mr. Droop," she said.

Surprised at this sudden demonstration of friendship, he took her hand
and tipped his head to one side as he looked into her face.

"Next time you see me, I don't suppose you'll know me, I'll be so
little," she said, trying to laugh.

"I--I wish't you'd call me Cousin Copernicus," he said, coaxingly.

"Well, p'raps I will when I see ye again," she replied, freeing her hand
with a slight effort.

Rebecca retired shortly after her sister and Copernicus was once more
left alone. He rubbed his hands slowly, with a sense of satisfaction,
and glanced at the date dial.

"July 2, 1892," he said to himself. "I'm only thirty-four years old.
Don't feel any older than that, either."

He walked deliberately to the shutters, closed them and turned on the
electric light. Surrounded thus by the wonted conditions of night, it
was not long before he began to yawn. He removed his coat and shoes and
lay back in an easy chair to meditate at ease. He faced toward the pole
so that the "side weight" would tend to press him gently backward into
his chair and therefore not annoy him by calling for constant opposing
effort.

He soon dozed off and was whisked through a quick succession of
fantastic dreams. Then he awoke suddenly, and as though someone had
spoken to him. Listening intently, he only heard the low murmur of the