``And for men!'' responded Diotti,
enthusiastically.

``Men don't amount to much here,
women run everything,'' retorted the
elder, while he repeated the process of
preparing the sugar and gin in the second
glass. The kettle began to sing.

``That's music for you,'' chuckled the
old man, raising the lid to see if the
water had boiled sufficiently. ``Do you
know I think a dinner horn and a singing
kettle beat a symphony all hollow
for real down-right melody,'' and he
lifted the kettle from the fire-place.

Diotti smiled.

With mathematical accuracy the old man
filled the two tumblers with boiling water.

``Try that,'' handing a glass of the
toddy to Diotti; ``you will find it all
right,'' and the old man drew an arm-
chair toward the fire-place, smacking his
lips in anticipation.

The violinist placed his chair closer to
the fire and sipped the drink.