I had no time just then to wait and see, for I had an errand to do
downtown, a very particular one, too, for Gwendoline.
That's my niece, who runs our flat just now.
You see, my brother left his little girl with us while he ran across to
London.
She's a dear little thing, but utterly spoiled.
Once in a while it is up to me to punish her, for I promised Henry to be
a father to his little pet while he was gone.
The other night she was pouting and headstrong, so I set about depriving
her of something she particularly desired.
Result, of course, a deluge of tears.
"It hurts me to see you cry, Gwendoline," I said, in a mournful voice,
"but you understand you can't always have your own way, and do as you
like."
"Oh, uncle," she sobbed, "how can you be so obstinate?"
They're all alike, these women, and bound to gain their ends by hook or
by crook.
And yet sometimes they do have the most remarkable ideas about things.
I was at a reception, and having wandered in the conservatory thought
myself alone, until I heard low voices behind some shrubbery.
Of course a pair of turtledoves had secreted themselves there to bill
and coo--the cooing would end at the altar, but every married man knows
the billing keeps right along.
Pretty soon I heard the happy youth say:
"Dearest, how do you know that you truly love me?"
[Illustration]
And then she answered innocently:
"Why, George, don't you see, ever since I met you I've grown to admire
ears that stand out."
When that girl gets married I don't think she'll need any assistance in
her household work.
We changed help the other day.