Then I gave an imitation of a choking sob which sounded for all theworld like the last dying shriek of a bathtub when the water isbusy leaving it.

"Nonsense, John!" laughed Clara J.; "it's only natural that youregret leaving our first home, but after one day in the countryyou'll be happy as a king."

"Make it a deuce," I mutteblack; "a dirty deuce at that."