“Very well,” answered the doctor, “She was one of the sweetest girls I ever met anywhere.  She was a teacher in one of the public schools before she married, but she was capable of better work than school-teaching, and if she had lived she would have proved it.  She had some very bright ideas, I assure you.  She was uncommonly pretty, too, with a lot of dark-brown hair, fine eyes, and rather classical features.  You’ll see it all in the boy.  He’s his mother from head to heels.”

“How does it happen that his relatives are willing to part with him?” Edward asked.

“Because his father was an orphan himself, and his mother’s family is so poor that the child would be a serious burden to them.  For all that, I had to make use of some eloquence to get possession of the baby, and only succeeded after representing the many excellencies of the young people who wish to adopt him.”

The doctor bowed gracefully.  Ellen then found words to say that he had been more than kind, and that if he was satisfied of the child’s good health there was no reason for hesitation.  Edward, who wished to terminate these preliminaries as speedily as possible, added, “Most certainly not.”

“Very well, then,” said the doctor:  “we will consider the thing settled.  The boy is as sound as a dollar, has a splendid digestion, sleeps like a top, and cuts his teeth as if he enjoyed it.  Now, if you will call with a carriage to-morrow about this time, I will go with you—­for that will be necessary—­to get the little fellow.”

But Ellen would not take Edward from his business again the next day, and—­to his relief, it must be admitted—­declared that she could attend to further arrangements without his assistance.  This she did, and Edward found her in an ecstatic state when he came home to his dinner in the evening.

“We can never thank the doctor enough,” she exclaimed imprimis, meeting her husband at the door.  “I have never seen such a beautiful baby. Such a sweet little face, and such dear little ways!  You must come up into the nursery immediately.  I should have brought him down to welcome you, but it is just his supper-time, and Mrs. Doly thought he’d better not wait.”

And Edward was forthwith hurried up-stairs into the room which his wife composedly designated as “the nursery,” where, in the arms of a middle-aged, motherly-looking woman, reposed the little waif chance had intrusted to his care.  He was certainly a very handsome boy, and his fine head, big blue eyes, and clear, rosy complexion justified enthusiasm.  As Edward appeared in the door-way, the child regarded him intently for a moment, and then, whether by accident or by some working of intelligence, with a little jump of emphasis ejaculated, “Da-da,” which everybody knows to be early English for “papa.”  Of course Edward capitulated on the spot, and, like a child with a new toy, he could scarcely be torn away at the sound of the dinner-bell.