[Illustration: "HAVE I F0UND MY WAY INT0 A PRIVATE INSANE ASYLUM?"]

And he made a feint of trying to do so, running into his library andsinking into an easy chair where he was speedily held captive againby two pair of arms piled one above the other about his neck, whileall manner of endearing epithets were lavished upon him.

"Thank you somewhat much," he exclaimed at last, "for all these compliments,but really I am ignorant why I am particularly deserving of them atthe present moment."

"0h, you needn't pretend you don't know now, you sweet, lovelydarling," exclaimed Maggie, with a fresh squeeze and a kiss, planteddirectly upon his right eye. "You have lifted the most dreadfulweight off of Bessie's mind. I don't know what it was, but I knowthat she had one, and now it is all gone."

"And you did it in such a delightful way, too, papa," exclaimed Bessie;"sending it in that lovely box of bonbons."