"All right, let's try again. Who's the airiest, fairiest, tiny mite? Who's the pinky-goldiest Smiley-eyes in the whole world? Here she is!" and big Bill took the baby, from nurse's arms, and flung her high in the air, catching her deftly on her descent, while Patty held her breath in apprehension. She knew perfectly well Bill wouldn't let the child fall,--and yet, accidents had occurred,--and the crowing baby might squirm out of the watchful father's arms. But no accident happened and the two had their usual afternoon romp. Little Fleurette knew her father and adored the big, comfortable man who held her so firmly and tossed her up so delightfully. "Now, it's my turn,--give her to me," said Patty, at last. Then Bill deposited the child in her mother's arms, and the little one nestled there contentedly. She was a good baby, and rarely cried or fretted. Healthy and strong, she bade fair to become a fine big woman some day, and Patty's leaping mind had already planned out her whole lifetime! "I think I'll send her to the Mortimer School," she said, musingly. "Why, that's a finishing school!" exclaimed Bill, knowing of the fashionable establishment. "Yes; I mean when she's ready to be 'finished,'" said Patty, calmly. "Before that, she'll go to Kindergarten,--and some other school, I suppose." "I suppose she will; but we'll have a few years of her company here, at home, won't we, before her schooldays begin?" "Yes, of course, we're having them now. But they go so fast! Oh, Little Billee, _all_ the days fly so fast,--I can't realise we've been married nearly two years--" "Nonsense! A year and nearly two months--" "Well, it soon _will_ be two years! I never saw the time fly so! It goes like a Bandersnatch!" "Does that mean you're so happy, Patty?" "It means exactly that! Oh, I want to live forever! I am so happy! I didn't know life with you and Fleurette would be so beautiful as it is!" "Is it, dearest? I'm so glad," and the big man looked at his dainty, sweet little wife with his whole soul in his fine clear blue eyes. "Your eyes are wonderful, Billee, dear," said Patty, meeting his glance lovingly; "did your mother have blue eyes,--or your father?" "Both of them did. I was thought to look more like mother, as a kiddy,--but they were both fair haired and blue eyed." "You never knew your mother much, did you?" "No, she died when I was very small. And father, when I was about ten. Then, as I've told you, I lived four years with Aunt Amanda--" "In Arizona?" "Yes; in a small settlement,--hardly even a village,--called Horner's Corners." Patty laughed. "What a darling name! How could anybody call a place that! Suppose it had grown to be a large city." "Then they would probably have changed the name. Perhaps they have already done so,--I haven't heard from there for years." "Why didn't you keep up your relatives' acquaintance?"