"I'm not ashamed to have them hear me call you father, Corky," protested Rip. "I'll shout it from the house top if you think there's any doubt about my sincerity." "Don't tease, Ripley," said Toots. "Your poor brother is dreadfully embarrassed." "You must go with me to the dressmaker's tomorrow, girls," said the Grand Duchess, effectually putting a stop to the discussion. "I shall be there all day trying on gowns, and I want your opinions." "Didn't you have anything made in Paris, Mother?" cried Toots and Beppy in unison. "She did," said Corky emphatically. "We paid duty on seventy-three gowns, to say nothing of other things." "But they are all out of fashion by this time," said Mrs. Corky, joyously. "They are at least three months old. I'm getting everything new. The season promises to be an unusually brilliant one, doesn't it, dear?" Every one waited for Gorky's reply. He appeared to have swallowed something the wrong way. It was just like them to wait, CONFOUND them, thought he resentfully. "Yes," said he, so succinctly that the four ladies were bitterly disappointed. For them, the topic called for the most elaborate treatment. "I shall give a big ball right after the holidays," said the Grand Duchess, determined to keep the subject going. "Corky and I have been going over the list of invitations this week. We mean to make it very select. On a rough estimate, we figure that the affair won't cost a cent less than fifty thousand--" "My dear!" cried Corky, rapping violently on the table with his fork in his agitation. "That's a pearl-handled fork," his wife reminded him, going very red under her rouge. At this juncture Jefferson arose and, clearing his throat, began a toast to the brides. "On your feet, gentlemen! Here's to the four Mrs. Van Winkles, the fourest of the fair--I mean the fairest of the four--ouch!--the fairest--of--the--fair. May they never know an hour of remorse! May their hearts always beat time to the tune of love we shall sing into their lovely ears, and may they be kind enough to forgive us our transgressions while they listen to our eternal and everlasting song! Drink, gentlemen!" As the four gentlemen drained their glasses, the four ladies applauded the eloquent Jeff. "You must write that out for Corky, Jefferson," cried his mother-in-law. "He may have an opportunity to spring it--" "Ahem!" barked Corky, quite viciously. "I am sure we shall all love one another and be happy to the end of our days," cried Mrs. Bleecker Van Winkle, an extremely handsome woman of thirty-three. "Good for you, Mother!" shouted Rip, with enthusiasm and every one laughed, Corky the loudest of all. Beppy rose half way out of her seat and peered down the table in the direction of her sister Mary. "Stop holding hands, you silly things!" she cried, shaking her finger at Bleecker Van Winkle and his wife. "I'm not holding hands," cried Mary. "She was feeling my pulse," explained the old gentleman hastily.