sorry Mary Jane couldn't be here--'twould have
been such a good chance for him to meet our
friends.''

``As--_Mary Jane?_'' asked Bertram, a little
stiffly.

``Really, my dear,'' murmured Aunt Hannah,
``I think it _would_ be more respectful to call him
by his name.''

``By the way, what is his name?'' questioned
William.

``That's what we don't know,'' laughed Billy.

``Well, you know the `Arkwright,' don't you?''
put in Bertram. Bertram, too, laughed, but it
was a little forcedly. ``I suppose if you knew his
name was `Methuselah,' you wouldn't call him
that--yet, would you?''

Billy clapped her hands, and threw a merry
glance at Aunt Hannah.

``There! we never thought of `Methuselah,' ''
she gurgled gleefully. ``Maybe it _is_ `Methuselah,'
now--`Methuselah John'! You see, he's told
us to try to guess it,'' she explained, turning to
William; ``but, honestly, I don't believe, whatever