He looked up at their faces. Bob's was one wide-eyed
countenance of incredulous joy. The other's - if he had seen
there satisfaction at having brought a man to terms he felt he
should have despised her; but that was not what he saw.

There was, by planning carefully, just room to wedge the
rocking-horse in at Mrs. Lessing's feet without encroaching on
the steering-gear. As they drove off, Bob was bending over
and gently, stroking the animal's splendid black mane, with
little chuckles and gurgles of joy. Once more Burns looked at
Ellen Lessing behind Bob's back.

"You're happy now, aren't you?" he asked in tone of assurance.
"Then, confound it, I must own I'm paid for letting my wise
bachelor notions go hang, just for this time!"

"Thank you," she answered very gently. "And I'm paid for
trying to be reasonable."

He laughed, suddenly content. Between them, the little lad
who had never owned a toy in his life, stowing the red train
carefully away between has feet, gave himself wholly to the
rocking-horse.


Well, Ellen," was Martha Macauley's greeting to her sister,
"did you have as interesting a time dressing the child as you
expected?"