Mrs. Bunker expected her every minute--Aunt Lovey--her husband's aunt, who had brought him up, and had given him all those particular ways that were the bane of Mrs. Bunker's wedded life, she having very little idea of the necessity he attached to method in managing a household. Mrs. Bunker, only two years from school, had written very nice letters to this friend of her husband's orphaned childhood. She loved her Joshua, in spite of his unsentimental name, and was inclined to adopt all his family in her affectionate little soul. Nor was it unnatural that she wished them to think well of her in return; she particularly desired to gain Aunt Lovey's good opinion, and when the long talked of visit was decided on, had hoped to make a grand first impression. If it hadn't been Monday morning, and if baby hadn't been so cross--if the spare room had only been cleared up after her brother's departure--if the girl was "worth two straws"--in fact, if everything hadn't been exactly what it shouldn't be, Mrs. Bunker would have got up herself, her house, and her baby, to the best advantage. She had a very pretty face and figure, a fact of which she was well aware, and as a school-girl and young lady in society, had made the most of. Since her marriage, this was not so apparent to Mr. Bunker, however, as in the days of their courtship. _Then_, she never allowed herself to be seen without her hair in the most wonderful French twists and Grecian braids--or her dress put on to the utmost advantage. Now, "it wasn't worth while to dress just for Joshua"--or "baby was _so_ troublesome"--or "she hadn't a thing to put on." It _was_ worth while to dress for Aunt Lovey, and she desired to look her very best--only baby _wouldn't_ go to sleep. "Rock-a-by baby"-- (Mrs. Bunker had been considered to have the best voice in the Highville Seminary, but now her music was confined chiefly to that charming ballad writer, Mother Goose.) "Rock-a-by baby, father's gone a hunting"--Oh, dear, she will be here before I can get him down! There--therey--did the drayman say his Aunty Lovey was a-goin' to walky uppy to the housey? Johnny shall ride, Johnny shall ride (you provoking little monkey, why _don't_ you shut your eyes!)--"Wid a white pussy-cat tied to his side!"--sang, and rocked, and trotted Mrs. Bunker. "Where _is_ that Jane? Not a dish washed--and I don't believe the hot water's on for the clothes. Therey, therey, mother's baby, mother's only little man! Did the naughty colic bother mother's little son? Send the wind right up, so I would. Ride a cock horse to Banbury cross--therey, therey, don't cry so, mother's little man--'Had a little dog, sir, Banger was his name, sir'--Banger, Buffer, Kicker, Cuffer, _Banger_ was his name, sir! Jane! Jane! Where is that girl? I feel as if I should fly!"