“_Not by a jug full!_ I’ll tend to that myself. I know now what has been the matter!” was almost screamed in the ears of Dr. West and Dora, as Johnnie rushed into the room. He had started to come before, he said, but had been arrested at the door by something Dora was saying to the doctor. “I know it’s paltry mean to listen,” he continued, “but I could not help it, and so I stood stiller than a mouse, and heard all you had to say. That’s why Aunt Dora has looked so white and cried so much, and didn’t want father to kiss her. I understand. She didn’t like him, but she’s pesky willing to have _you_ slobber over her as much as you want to,” and the boy turned fiercely toward the doctor. “I counted, and while I stood there you kissed her _fourteen_ times! It was smack, smack, till I was fairly sick, and sort of mad with all the rest. I know auntie always _has_ done right, and so I s’pose she is right now, but somehow I can’t help feeling as if the governor was abused, and _me_ too! How, I’d like to know, am I ever going to Europe if you don’t have father? O Auntie, think again before you quit entirely!” and overmastered with tears, Johnnie buried his face in the bed-clothes, begging of Dora “to think again, and not give poor father the mitten!” “You are making her worse! You had better go out!” the doctor said kindly, laying a hand on Johnnie’s shoulder; but the boy shook it off, savagely exclaiming: “You let me _be_, old Dr. West. I shall stay if I have a mind to!” But when Dora said: “Johnnie, Johnnie, please don’t,” he melted at once, and sobbed aloud. “I was mad, Auntie; and I guess I’m mad yet, but I do love you. O Auntie, poor father! I’m going right off to tell him. He shan’t be fooled any longer!” and the excited child darted from the room ere Dora had time to stop him. Rushing down the stairs and entering the library, he called loudly for his father, but he was not there. He had gone into the village, Jessie said, asking if it was anything in particular which he wanted. “Yes, of course. I want to tell him how it’s all day with him and Auntie. She don’t like him, and she does like Dr. West. Poor father! was there ever anything so mean?” Here at last was one who in part expressed her own sentiments, and the impulsive Jessie replied: “It is mean, I think, and I am so sorry for your father. Of course Dora intends to do right, and likes the doctor best, because he is not so old as your father; but young as I am, I should not think it so awful to marry a man of forty. Why, I think it would be rather jolly, for I could do just as I pleased with him. Yes, I blame Dora some—” “I won’t have Aunt Dora blamed,” Johnnie roared, a reaction taking place the moment any one presumed to censure her. “No, I won’t have her blamed, so you just hush up. If she don’t want father she shan’t have him, and I’ll lick the first one who says she shall.”