name in English?"

Halfdan looked blank, and blushed to his
ears.

"I wish to know," continued the lady
energetically, evidently anxious to help him out,
"what your name would mean in plain English.
Bjerk, it certainly must mean something."

"Bjerk is a tree--a birch-tree."

"Very well, Birch,--that is a very respectable
name. And your first name? What did
you say that was?

"H-a-l-f-d-a-n."

"Half Dan. Why not a whole Dan and be
done with it? Dan Birch, or rather Daniel
Birch. Indeed, that sounds quite Christian."

"As you please, madam," faltered the victim,;
looking very unhappy.

"You will pardon my straightforwardness,
won't you? B-jerk. I could never pronounce
that, you know."

"Whatever may be agreeable to you, madam,