"John!" said his wife. John assumed a meek expression; and Mrs. John, putting the baby in the cradle, turned to her brother-in-law. "I thought the Army was a hobby with you." "It was. I've saved up quite a sum, and I'm going to see a lot of fine scenery if my leg doesn't give out." "Or your bank account," supplemented John. "Well, or my bank account." "Draw on me whenever you want passage out West," went on the statesman in chrysalis. Whereupon they all laughed; not because John had said anything particularly funny, but because there was a good and generous measure of happiness in each heart. "Bob, there's a ball at the British embassy tonight. You must go with us." "Impossible!" said Robert. "Remember my leg." "That will not matter," said Mrs. John; "you need not dance." "What, not dance? I should die of intermittent fever. And if I did dance, my leg might give out." "You can ride a horse all right," said John, in the way of argument. "I can do that easily with my knees. But I can't dance with my knees. No, I shall stay at home. I couldn't stand it to see all those famous beauties, and with me posing as a wall-flower." "But what will you do here all alone?" "Play with the kid, smoke and read; make myself at home. You still smoke that Louisiana, Jack?" "Yes,"--dubiously. "So. Now, don't let me interfere with your plans for tonight. I haven't been in a home in so long that it will take more than one night for the novelty to wear off. Besides, that nurse of yours, Kit, is good to look at,"--a bit of the rogue in his eye. "Bob!"--from both women. "I promise not to look at her; I promise." "Well, I must be off," said John. "I'm late now. I've a dozen plans for coast defenses to go over with an inventor of a new carriage-gun. Will you go with me, while I put you up at the Metropolitan, or will you take a shopping trip with the women?" "I'll take the shopping trip. It will be a sensation. Have you any horses?" "Six." "Six! You _are_ a lucky pup: a handsome wife, a bouncing boy, and six horses! Where's the stable?" "In the rear. I keep only two stablemen; one to take care of the horses and one to act as groom. I'm off. I've a cracking good hunter, if you'd like a leg up. We'll all ride out to Chevy Chase Sunday. By-by, till lunch." Mr. Robert immediately betook himself to the stables, where he soon became intimately acquainted with the English groom. He fussed about the harness-room, deplored the lack of a McClelland saddle, admired the English curbs, and complimented the men on the cleanliness of the stables. The men exchanged sly smiles at first, but these smiles soon turned into grins of admiration. Here was a man who knew a horse from his oiled hoofs to his curried forelock. "This fellow ought to jump well," he said, patting the sleek neck of the hunter.