last he drew up at your house, and then your
mother, springing out, flew up the steps and beat
with her hands upon the door."

David was quite carried away by the reality of
it. "Father has the key!" he screamed.

"He opened the door," I said grandly, "and
your mother rushed in, and next moment her
Benjamin was in her arms."

There was a pause.

" Barbara," corrected David.

" Benjamin," said I doggedly.

"Is that a girl's name?"

"No, it's a boy's name."

"But mother wants a girl," he said, very much
shaken.

"Just like her presumption," I replied testily.
"It is to be a boy, David, and you can tell her I
said so."

He was in a deplorable but most unselfish state
of mind. A boy would have suited him quite
well, but he put self aside altogether and was per-
tinaciously solicitous that Mary should be given
her fancy.

" Barbara," he repeatedly implored me.

" Benjamin," I replied firmly.

For long I was obdurate, but the time was sum-
mer, and at last I agreed to play him for it, a two-
innings match. If he won it was to be a girl, and
if I won it was to be a boy.

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