But I don't see why people at large should not be
licensed to bring in a bill when their friends insist upon
describing their maladies to them: doctors do. But I must be
going. Good night."
She rose and stamped her feet into the rubbers to make them fit
securely; and then she came across to the lamp-lit table beside
which he sat watching her fondly--his book dropped the while upon
his lap. He grasped her large strong hand in his large strong
hand; and she leaned her side against his shoulder and put her arm
around his neck.
"You are getting younger, Anna," he said, looking up into her face
and drawing her closer.
"Why not?" she answered with a voice of splendid joy. "Harriet is
married; what troubles have I, then? And she patronizes--or
matronizes--me and tyrannizes over Ambrose: so the world is really
succeeding at last. But I wish her husband had not asked me
_first_; that is her thorn."
"And the thorn will grow!"
"Now, don't sit up late!" she pleaded. "I turned your bed down and
arranged the pillows wrong end out as you will have them; and I put
out your favorite night-shirt--the one with the sleeves torn off
above the elbows and the ravellings hanging down just as you
require. Aren't you tired of books yet? Are you never going to
get tired? And the same books! Why, I get fresh babies every few
years--a complete change."
"How many generations of babies do you suppose there have been
since this immortal infant was born?" he asked, laying his hand
reverently over the book on his lap as if upon the head of a divine
child.
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