tacked behind his name."

"Janet had better take care, and Bobus too," said the Doctor, "or we
shall have to send them to vegetate on some farm, and see the cows
milked and the pigs fed."

"I'm afraid Bobus would apply himself to finding how much caseine
matter was in the cow's milk," said Janet in her womanly tone.

"Or by what rule the pigs curled their tails," said her father, with
a mischievous pull at the black plaited tail that hung down behind
her.

And then they all rose from the table, little Barbara starting up as
soon as grace was said. "Father, please, you _are_ the Giant Queen
Mab always rides!"

"Queen Mab, or Queen Bab, always rides me, which comes to the same
thing. Though as to the size of the Giant-—"

There was a pause to let grandmamma go up in peace, upon Mother
Carey's arm, and then a general romp and scurry all the way up the
stairs, ending by Jock's standing on one leg on the top post of the
baluster, like an acrobat, an achievement which made even his father
so giddy that he peremptorily desired it never to be attempted again,
to the great relief of both the ladies. Then, coming into the
drawing-room, Babie perched herself on his knee, and began, without
the slightest preparation, the recitation of Cowper's "Colubriad":—-