ness to Boy exactly, but simply because he hates to
hear a child yell, — it gets on his nerves. Then, of
course, Boy thinks his father is ill, and pities him
so much that the two get on together capitally."

And this lymphatic lump of a woman laughed
again, the while Miss Letitia gazed blankly at the
fireplace and endeavoured to control her indignant
feelings. The maid-servant came in just then in
answer to the bell.
" Bring the tea, Gerty," commanded her mistress
with quite a grand air, as one who should say
" Bid the thousand menials in the outer court of
the castle serve me with delicacies on their bended
knees."

Gerty had a severe cold, and sniffed violently
and unbecomingly.
" Please, 'm, the milkman ain't been yet. This
momin' he said as he might be late, as there was
a family t'other side of the square as liked their
meals punctual, and he guessed he'd have to go
that side first instead of ours. And there ain't
none left from the mornin'. Master Boy's 'ad it
all."

" Dear, sweet, greedy little pig !" smiled Mrs.
D'Arcy-Muir, affably. " Well, you can bring the
tea-cups and the tea-pot and the kettle and the
bread and butter and — oh! There is condensed
milk, I know. Will you have condensed milk,
Letitia?"

Miss Letitia responded somewhat primly, —

" No, certainly not !" Then, regretting her

28



BOY.
