"Hulloa, Melia," he said heartily. "Pleased to see you, gel." His lips saluted her cheek with a loud smack. There was not a suspicion of false shame about him. He was master in his own house at any rate. And when he made up his mind to do a thing he did it thoroughly. "What do you think on 'em?" He pointed to his grandchildren rather proudly. "That's Gwennie. And that's Gladdie. This is your Auntie Melia." The ears of Mrs. Doctor Cockburn began to burn a little as the eyes of Gwennie and Gladdie grew rounder and rounder. "Gladdie favors her ma. Don't you think so, eh? And they've both got a look of Grandma--what?" "I see a look of you, you know, Josiah," said Auntie Gerty with an air of immense discretion. "Um. Maybe. Have they had any strawberries, Grandma?" Their mother thought they ought not to have strawberries, but their grandfather was convinced that a few would not hurt them and chose half a dozen himself from a blue dish on the tea table and presented them personally. "There, Gwenneth, what do you say?" Mrs. Doctor Cockburn's own mouth was full of prunes and prisms. "Thank you what--thank you, Grandpa." "That's a good little gel." There was a geniality, an indulgence, in the tone of Josiah that he had never thought of extending to his own children in their nursery days. "And I tell you what, Ma--if they get a pain under their pinnies they must blame their old grand-dad." Altogether, a pleasant episode, and to everybody, Gwenneth and Gwladys included, a welcome diversion. "Have some more tea, Melia." Her father took her cup from her in spite of the protest her tongue was unable to utter and handed it to the inefficient lady in charge of the teapot. "And you must have a few strawberries. Fresh picked out of the garden. Ethel, touch that bell." Mrs. Doctor, with an air of resolute fineladyism, pressed the electric button at her elbow. The grand parlor maid entered with a smile of imperfectly concealed cynicism. "Alice, more cream!" Melia wondered how even her father was able to address Alice in that way; but his coolness ministered to the reluctant respect he was arousing in her by his manly attitude to his own grandeur. The cream appeared. Gwenneth and Gwladys were forbidden to have any--their lives so far had been a series of negations and inhibitions--but Melia had some, although she didn't want it, but the will of her father was greater than her powers of resistance. And then he said to her, "When you've had your tea, I'll show you the greenus." "Conservatory, Josiah," said Aunt Gerty with an arch preen of features and a show of plumage. "Much too big for a mere greenhouse."