"Really, it is not at all necessary."

"But, Lisbeth, I must - I insist - "

"Reginald," she said, turning toward the Imp, who was still busy
with his cap, "it's nearly tea-time, and - why, whatever have you
been doing to yourself?"

"For the last half hour," I interposed, "we have been exchanging
our opinions on the sex."

"An' talking 'bout worms," added the Imp. "This man is fond of
worms, too, Auntie Lisbeth - I like him."

"Thanks," I said; "but let me beg of you to drop your very distant
mode of address, Call me Uncle Dick,"

"But you're not my Uncle Dick, you know," he demurred.

"Not yet, perhaps; but there's no knowing what may happen some day
if your Auntie thinks us worthy - so take time by the forelock, my
Imp, and call me Uncle Dick."

Whatever Lisbeth might or might not have said was checked by the
patter of footsteps, and a little girl tripped into view, with a
small, fluffy kitten cuddled in her arms.

"Oh, Auntie Lisbeth,"she began, but stopped to stare at me over the
back of the fluffy kitten.