"Besides," added Robin, "as I am always explaining to you, Pa is a
literary man. With him it is part of his temperament."

"It's hard on us children," said Veronica.

We were all agreed--with the exception of Veronica--that it was time
Veronica went to bed. As chairman I took it upon myself to closure
the debate.



CHAPTER II



"Do you mean, Governor, that you have actually bought the house?"
demanded Dick, "or are we only talking about it?"

"This time, Dick," I answered, "I have done it."

Dick looked serious. "Is it what you wanted?" he asked.

"No, Dick," I replied, "it is not what I wanted. I wanted an old-
fashioned, picturesque, rambling sort of a place, all gables and ivy
and oriel windows."

"You are mixing things up," Dick interrupted, "gables and oriel
windows don't go together."

"I beg your pardon, Dick," I corrected him, "in the house I wanted,