"No," agreed Punch, in the tone of one who humours. "Ain't been out to tea," he suggested. "Has!" screamed Judy. "Doody has!" The blue eyes looked searchingly into the dark ones, and, with a qualm of disappointment, Punch felt the force of truth. "Cake?" he asked presently, after silently observing her. Judy shook her head violently, the violence intended to hide the mortification of having to confess the absence of the delicacy. "Punch did," he said. "Cake, an' tea, an'----" "Bun?" burst in Judy; and then it was Punch's turn to look disappointed. Buns had not been provided at his entertainment. "Doody did," went on Judy; "an' milk, an'----" "Punch had tea," interrupted Christopher. "An' man," went on Judy, with immense emphasis. Christopher looked at her solemnly, as he dived into the recesses of his memory; not a man had graced his tea-party! "Man?" persisted Judy, searching his eyes with her blazing orbs. There was a silence. "Punch are goin' to muvver," the boy then announced cheerfully, freeing his legs from Judy's petticoats with a vigorous kick. "Man!" shrieked Judy after his retreating figure, too much taken by surprise to lift herself so suddenly. Then she, too, got up, shook herself, and with a dash was through the nursery door. "Out to tea agen," she sang out, trotting fast along the corridor. * * * * * But alas! for Judy. All the doors and gates were fast, and for a week they were kept carefully closed. [Illustration: "Man!" shrieked Judy.] [Illustration: COUNTING NOT THE COST (_Photo: H. S. Mendelssohn, Pembridge Crescent, W._)] By the Rev. C. Silvester Horne, M.A. "When His disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste? For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor."--ST. MATTHEW xxvi. 8, 9. Blessed is the love that counteth not the cost of sacrifice! Thus I read the meaning of the Master's recognition of this act of homage--the form in which a devout and eager spirit of reverence found expression and articulation. This woman, by surrendering herself to the impulse of adoration and affection, laid herself open to the criticisms of the self-constituted champions of common sense, utility, and philanthropy. We shall see, as we look at her story, how, in the regard of Heaven, what I might venture to call a genuine and spontaneous extravagance ranks higher than a legal and mechanical economy.