error to suppose that he was really hurt. Thank you so
much for coming."

I was really too much overwhelmed by this speech to think of
criticising, but Josephine evidently suspected me of something of the
kind, for she pinched unmistakably my arm. As for the poor doctor, he
was smiling in a sickly sort of fashion when my son-in-law, who I am
glad to see is something of a philosopher himself, broke in with--

"Since there are no bones broken, the least thing you can do for us,
Doctor, is to stay to luncheon. I have opened a bottle of Clos Vougeot
in honor of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the wedding of my wife's
father and mother."

"Yes, do stay, Doctor," said Winona. "And I am very anxious that you
should come and vaccinate baby next week."

The doctor stayed and drank our health in a bottle of excellent wine,
and not a word was said about science of any kind by anyone. As we
drove home I remarked to Josephine that I had made two discoveries:
first, that I had lost my grip a little, especially in the matter of
babies, and secondly, that Christian Science was evidently a convenient
doctrine which could be put on or off like a glove as the occasion
demanded. Replying thereto my wife said: "Fred, I consider that you
had a marvellous escape with that baby, and that Winona bore it
splendidly. As for her silly nonsense, she is evidently in the
moulting state, and I prophesy that by the time baby has the measles we
shall hear no more of it. Harold seems to understand perfectly how to
handle her."

That evening we had our four children and our two sons-in-law to dine
with us. It was a state occasion. Josephine was in black velvet, and
wore the modest diamond star which I presented to her just before we
sat down to table. The girls looked superbly in their best plumage,
and it seemed to me, as I glanced to right and left from my patriarchal
position, that I had every reason to be proud of the four young men who
will control the destinies of the family when I am under the sod.
Proud not only of my two dear sons, but of my two dear sons-in-law,
who, though one is slight and short, and the other impressive-looking
and tall, and though both hold absurd political notions with which I
have not the slightest sympathy, have so completely won my heart by
their devotion to their wives and generally exemplary behavior, that I
cannot choose between them. I was in a jovial mood that evening, I can
tell you, and there wa