r had passed from her mind. She was as gay
as a lark, giving him bits of news she had heard while she was out, telling
him of the things she had seen during her walk that she thought might
interest him, even trifles which seemed hardly worth speaking about; but
when one is confined indoors, the veriest trifle of outside life is
welcome, so Gussie need not have curled her lip so scornfully when Dexie
was relating the sights of the afternoon.

"Just think, papa," Dexie added, taking no heed to these silent objections
so plainly visible, "they have put new steps before the door of your old
office, and a new 'No admittance' card is tacked on the inside door, and
the place is being all spruced up. The painters have got to work at the old
Baptist church; it is to be repaired inside and out--quite time, too, for
it looks as if it had been exposed to the weather ever since the Flood!
Mitchell's tailor shop has two new figures in the window, and, judging by
the styles displayed, the latest style of coat is much cut away and would
suit you exactly. But if you want to dress in the very latest style, you
must also have a gorgeous plaid necktie. Shall I buy you one, papa?"

"Why, Dexie; how silly you talk," said her mother severely. "What does your
father need with new neck-ties while he is lying there on his back?"

The tears sprang to Dexie's eyes at once. Why could not her mother let him
believe for one half-minute that he was _not_ "lying there on his back"
with no need of fashionable attire? It made Dexie's heart ache to see the
changed expression come over her father's face at the thoughtless words,
and she turned from the room to hide her tears.

But Dexie had many little devices to amuse her father, who was quick to
catch the passing moods of those around him. One little diversion in
particular always brought a spice of frolic with it, while it caused Mrs.
Sherwood to frown in displeasure. Dexie would set her father's table before
him, but bring in his food covered over, and he must guess at the contents
of the dishes by sundry whiffs which she would allow him from the corner of
the raised napkin, and his many absurd guesses, in response to her efforts,
often caused much merriment between them. He always found some little
surprise on the table, if nothing more than a new cup to drink his tea
from, or a pretty device on the little pat of butter; there was sure to be
something to make remarks about. But this "foolishness," as