"Thomas," said the Idiot, "you talk too much, and, what is more, you say vain things which some day you will regret. When you get older you will recall this dictum of yours, that 'girls isn't any good,' with a blush of shame, and remember that your mother was once a girl." "Well, she's outgrown it," said Tommy; and then reverting to his father's choice of words, he added, "What is dictums, anyhow?" "Pooh!" cried the little girl. "Smarty don't know what dictums is!" "Suppose you two young persons subside for a few minutes!" interrupted the Idiot. "I wish to talk to your mother, and I haven't got all day. You'll be wanting some bread and butter to-morrow, and I must go to town and earn it." "All right, pa," said Tommy. "I ain't got anything to say that I can't say to myself. I'd rather talk to myself, anyhow. You can be as sassy--" "Thomas!" said the Idiot, severely. "All right, pa," said Tommy; and with a side remark to the cream-jug, that he still thought Mollie ought to be swapped off for something, it didn't matter what as long as it wasn't another girl, the boy lapsed into a deep though merely temporary silence. "You said you'd like to give a dinner to Mr. and Mrs. Pedagog and the others," said Mrs. Idiot. "I quite approve." "I think it would be nice," returned the Idiot. "It has been more than six years since we were all together." "You wouldn't prefer having them at breakfast, would you?" asked Mrs. Idiot, with a smile. "I remember hearing you say once that breakfast was your best time." "How long is six years, pa?" asked Tommy. "Really, Thomas," replied the Idiot, severely, "you are the most absurd creature. How long is six years!" "I meant in inches," said Tommy, unabashed. "You always told me to ask you when I wanted to know things. Of course, if you don't know--" "It's more'n a mile, I guess," observed Mollie, with some superiority of manner. "Ain't it, pa?" The Idiot glanced at his wife in despair. "I don't think, my dear, that I am as strong at breakfast as I used to be," said he. "There was a time when I could hold my own, but things seem to have changed. Make it dinner; and, Tommy, when you have deep problems to solve, like how long is six years in inches, try to work them out for yourself. It will fix the results more firmly in your mind." "All right, pa," replied Tommy; "I thought maybe you knew. I thought you said you knew everything." [Illustration: "POSSESSED A LIBRARY OF FIRST EDITIONS"]