All this had its effect. In spite of his coat, Carter softened and became amiable. His hair had been nicely curled at the ends, a thing he had submitted to for the first time in his life, but, on the whole, rather liked. The diamond studs in his bosom glittered like fire-flies, and his watch-chain coiled down his white vest like a golden serpent hiding its head in his pocket. “Now, my dear,” said Mrs. Carter, “just stand back and let me look at you.” “Well, Mrs. Carter, what have you got to say about it?” Here Mr. Carter put a thumb into each armhole of his white vest, and posed himself superbly. Mrs. Carter took a general observation, drew nearer, smoothed the sleeves of his coat with her plump hand, and observed that better-looking men might be found in the great city of New York, but she had never set eyes on them. At which Carter, being a little doubtful of himself, blushed rosily, and attempted a dancing step, which proved an ignominious failure, his boots being as tight as his coat. “My dear,” said Mrs. Carter, busying her hands with the neck-tie again. “Do you know I’ve been thinking of a pleasant surprise for you—a _very_ pleasant surprise?” “Indeed, Mrs. Carter, you have given me one in this party, which I shan’t get over in six months. What is it to be this time?” “A daughter—a full-grown, lovely daughter. What do you think of that?” “A full-grown, lovely daughter, Mrs. Carter? Well, I think you are in want of a straight jacket more than I am, and, after the party, this coat shall be made over to you.” “But I am in earnest, husband!” “So am I, wife, so much in earnest that I shouldn’t mind giving up the coat now.” “We have often talked of adopting a little girl since you know when.” A flush came around Carter’s eyes—he turned away from his wife. “It would be a trouble to bring one up, you know, dear. Now supposing that done, and a girl came naturally into the family about the age _she_ might have been, wouldn’t you rather like it?” “I haven’t thought about it, wife, have you?” “Yes, Carter, and you’ll see this girl to-night. I’ve given you the idea, when you’ve seen her, just say if she wont be like a sunbeam in the house?” “Like a what?” exclaimed Mr. Carter. Mrs. Carter blushed and fanned herself nervously. “It isn’t my idea, Carter; I found it in a magazine story, and remembered it because it was so original.” “Let that go. If the girl was like a sunbeam, she’d never get into our house, for fear of spoiling the carpets. You’d be the first to shut her out, old woman!” “Old woman! I don’t like that, Carter. Look at me with your own eyes, from head to foot, and say if you are not ashamed of yourself?” “Look at you? Well, I’m a doing it; but what on earth have you done with all them things from Ball & Black’s? So far, I haven’t seen nothing but the bills. I thought you wanted to cut a shine with them to-night.”