"Do tell!" exclaimed Miss Berry, laughing. "Well, where do you want the Fair to be, Mr. Gorham?" "Oh, I feel as though New York were the proper place. I think it is the general feeling that it would be a risk to trust a matter like that to Chicago. There has been a very clever cartoon published recently in New York, showing our principal cities represented as pretty women standing in a semicircle around Uncle Sam waiting to see which shall receive a bouquet which he holds in his hands labeled ’World’s Fair,’—that is, they are all pretty women except Chicago, who is a half-grown, scrawny girl, arrayed in an evening gown covered with a pattern of little pigs. She has huge diamonds blazing in her breast and ears, her thin arms are bare, and the hands she wildly stretches out to Uncle Sam wear white kid gloves with one button at the wrist. Her mouth is wide open, and she is evidently vociferously demanding the prize, while New York, a beautiful society girl, gazes at her with well-bred scorn. For my own part, I think New York may overdo the nonchalant business, and if she does, the energetic maiden stands a good chance to gain her end." "How do you suppose your cousin Jack likes to have his city made such game of?" asked Miss Lovina. "Oh, I fancy Jack has learned by this time to view the Garden City from a Bostonian standpoint. I don’t know what his views are on the subject of the Fair. I have seen very little of him the last years." "You are liable to make up for it in the year to come," said a new voice suddenly. Blitzen had already run growling toward a window, and now barked furiously as Jack Van Tassel walked into the room and Miss Lovina and her guest sprang to their feet. "Forgive the intrusion," added the new-comer, in the handshaking that ensued. "I looked through the window and saw you sitting here so comfortably, I thought it a pity to make you the trouble of coming to the door. Aunt Love, how are you? You didn’t expect to see me here, Gorham?" "Where have you dropped from? You were in Chicago day before yesterday," rejoined his cousin. "I don’t deny it. Thank you, Aunt Love. I used to like this rocking chair when my feet wouldn’t touch the floor as I sat in it. What do I see? If there isn’t the cookie box!" "Yes, and you’re in great luck to come as soon as you have, for I was just meditating another onslaught upon it." "Well, if you two great boys ain’t as bad as you ever were!" exclaimed Miss Berry in high delight, as she hastened to bring forth the currant wine again for the delectation of her new guest. "Perhaps you will explain yourself," remarked Page curiously, hospitably reaching out the tin box and meanwhile making attempts to hold Blitzen off with his foot; an effort which met the success attendant on similar treatment of quicksilver. "Why, I’ve come to see Aunt Love," responded Jack. "Why shouldn’t I?"