horse standing. I don't want Joe. I suppose Donna is uneasy
by this time. She won't stand at night--she's got to. I'll get that
whim out of her. Now, don't look that way. The horse is safe enough.
Don't you suppose I know how to drive? You're always having opinions
of your own against mine. There. I must be off."

"Where's the baby, Helen?" I turned, with my hand upon the latch of my
heavy oaken door, and jerked the question out, as cross men do.

"The baby isn't just right, somehow, Esmerald. I bated to bother you,
for you never think it is anything. I dare say he will be better, but
I thought I wouldn't let him come out of the nursery. Jane is with
him. I've been a _little_ troubled about him. He has cried all the
afternoon."

"He cries because you coddle him!" I exploded. "It is all nonsense,
Helen. Nothing ails the child. I won't encourage this sort of thing.
I'll see him when I come home. I can't possibly wait--I am driven to
death--for every little whim"--

But at the door I stopped. If the baby had been a patient he would
have seen no doctor that night. But the father in me got the better of
me, and without a word further to my wife I ran up to the nursery.

She stayed below; she perceived (Helen was always quick), although I
had not said so, that I did not wish her to follow me. I examined the
child hastily. The little fellow stopped crying at the sight of me,
and put up both arms to be taken. I said:--

"No, Boy. Papa can't stop now," and put him gently back into his crib.
When I had reached the nursery door I remember that I returned and
kissed him. I was very angry, but I could not be angry with my baby.
With the touch of his little lips, dewy and sweet, upon mine, I rushed
down to my wife, and tempestuously began again:--

"Helen, I must have an end to this nonsense. Nothing ails the baby; he
is only a trifle feverish with a new tooth. It really is very
unpleasant to me that you make such a fuss over him. If you had
married a greengrocer it might have been pardonable. Pray remember
that you have married a physician who understands his business, and do
leave me to manage it. Take the child out of the nursery. Carry him
downstairs as usual for a few minutes. He will sleep better. There!
I'm eight minutes behindhand already, all for this senseless anxiety of
yours. It is a pity you can't trust me, like other men's wives! I
wish I'd married a woman with a little wifely