"I know that," Theodora answered, as she rose and stooped to pick up Melchisedek who was pulling at her skirts appealingly. "But it's only the chance of helping him forget to be grumpy, till he outgrows the habit. It isn't that I want to spoil him, Cicely. It wouldn't do any good to coddle him or give in to him. Just keep out of all the skirmishes you can; and when he forces you into one, do what you can to establish a truce. Most boys go through this thorny age; it's as inevitable as mumps, but Allyn is taking it very hard, and we want to break it up before it becomes chronic. Do you see what I am driving at, dear?" "Enough so that I am going to wave the olive branch, to-morrow," she answered, laughing. "If he ignores it, I'll try it again in some other form. I only wanted to make sure that you approved of my meddling." She put her hand through Theodora's arm and together they paced up and down the broad piazza. Above them, the stars were dotting the still, dark air, and the ragged outline of The Savins showed itself faintly through the great trees. "His eyes have looked so heavy, the last day or two," she added, as she looked across to the light shining out from Allyn's window. And again, after a long interval, "It's not so easy, after all, Cousin Ted, this being a girl." CHAPTER TEN "Teddy, I am worried about Allyn." "What is the matter? Isn't he well?" "Yes, only rather listless. It isn't his health I am worrying about; it is his character." "He will come out all right," Theodora said cheerily, for it was rare to see her father in a despondent mood, and the sight distressed her. "Perhaps; but it seems to me that something is wrong with the boy. He isn't like the rest of you." "Mercifully not; and yet we were all queer sticks," Theodora observed tranquilly. "We appear to be working out our own salvation, though, whether it's writing or bones, and Allyn will probably follow our example when he is old enough." "I wish he might. He is giving me more trouble than all the rest of you put together, and the worst of it is that I don't know whether he needs a tonic or a thrashing." The good doctor knitted his brows and endeavored to look stern. "I suspect it is the latter," he added. Theodora shook her head gayly. "It wouldn't be of any use, papa. We must bide our time. Allyn is queer, most mortal queer; but these may be the mutterings of genius, a volcanic genius that is getting ready to erupt." "I never regarded bad temper as a sign of genius." "Perhaps not. But, even if it isn't, thrashings only leave callous spots. You'd better try the tonic." They had been walking up and down the front lawn. Now they turned, as by common consent, and strolled away towards a more distant part of the grounds. "Is anything new the trouble?" Theodora asked, after an interval. "No; only that his school reports get worse and worse, and that he appears to have a perfect genius for losing friends." "Even the warty James?" The doctor laughed.