e
came around the Horn from Philadelphia, as a matter of fact, and"--his
eyes, twinkling with indulgent amusement, met Anne's,--"and you know
that before a lady has got a baby to boast of, she's going to do a
little boasting about her new house!"

Anne laughed. "Perhaps she boasted about her husband, too," she said,
"as I do, when Jimmy isn't anywhere around."

She liked the tender look, that had in it just a touch of pleased
embarrassment with which he shook his head.

"Well, well, perhaps she did. Perhaps she did. She was very merry;
pleased with everything; to this day my wife always sees the cheerful
side of things first. A great gift, that. She danced about this house
as if it were another toy, and she a little girl. We thought it a very,
very lovely little home." His eyes travelled about the low walls. "I
got to thinking of it to-day, wondered if it were still standing. I
stood at your gate a little while,--the path is the same, and the
steps, and some of the old trees,--a japonica, I remember, and the
lemon verbenas. Finally, I found myself ringing your bell."

"I'm so glad you did!" Anne said. "There are lots of old trees and
shrubs in the backyard, too, that you and your wife might remember. We
think it is the dearest little house in the world, except that now we
are rather anxious to get the children out of the city."

"Yes, yes," he agreed with interest, "much better for them somewhere
across the bay. I remember that finally we moved into the
country--Alameda. The boy was a baby, then, and the two little girls
very small. It was quite a move! Quite a move! We got one load started,
and then had to wait and wait here--it was raining, too!--for the men
to come for the other load. My wife's sister had gone ahead with the
girls, but I remember Rose and I and the baby waiting and
waiting,--with the baby's little coat and cap on top of a box, ready to
be put on. Finally, I got Rose a carriage, to go to the ferry,--quite a
luxury in those days!" he interrupted himself, with a smile.

"And did the children love it,--the country?" said Anne, wistfully.

"Made them over!" said he, nodding reflectively. "Yes. I remember that
the day after we moved was a Sunday, and we had quite a patch of lawn
over there that I thought needed cutting. I shall never forget those
little girls tumbling about in the cut grass, and Rose watching from
the steps, with the baby in her lap. It made us all over." His voice
fell again, and