From amid the joint chorus of sobs and tears which burst forth with the wail of a Scottish slogan or an Indian death-song, I heard—­

“Oh, my poor darling!  Oh, my poor dear angel!  Oh, Mr. Butterby, how could you?”

“Madam,” I inquired, in amazement, “how could I what?”

It may be well to state the endearing epithet was applied to Malinda Jane.

“Oh, dear! dear! and all this time she has been scrimping and saving, I was unconscious as a child unborn.  Cruel, cruel man!”

Mrs. Lawk, burying her hand in the depths of her pocket, drew forth an attenuated handkerchief, and carefully wiped her eyes.

“Please, ma——­” interrupted Malinda Jane.

“Never, never again shall you leave my protecting wing.  Oh, inhuman monster, how could you be so heartless?”

“Monster” was given with a decidedly unpleasant bite, and recalled my calmness.

“Mrs. Mountchessington Lawk,” I placidly observed, “I have not the remotest idea what you are talking about.”

“Moses Butterby, you’re a brute.”

She rose to her feet.  A bundle, which, during the excitement, lay on her lap, broke open; and my mother-in-law, like Cleopatra in her roses, stood knee-deep in baby-clothes.  In a moment the truth burst upon me.  I was unmanned, limp, and disjointed.  The shock was too much!  A baby Butterby!

It is needless for me to remark to married men that the era of prospective paternity is an era of sacrifice.  Why, in this time-honored custom, so much depends on one’s mother-in-law, is a mystery I never could unravel.  I look upon it as one of the unaccountable fatalities of man, to be placed in the category of grievances with prickly heat.  Let it not be understood that my conduct was absolutely lamb-like.  It was not until solemnly assured the visit would not be prolonged an unnecessary hour that I finally yielded.  I think during that time I had a meaner opinion of my own importance than at any other period of my life.  My domestic career resembled that of a child guilty of an irreparable wrong and tolerated only through dire necessity.  Indeed, had Mrs. Mountchessington Lawk been a modern Rachel, and I the ruthless destroyer of her household, her conduct toward me could not have exhibited more injured resignation.  I somehow grew to feel guilty, and it was only at rare intervals I mustered courage to look either her or Malinda Jane in the face.

The anticipated addition to the family brought an immediate addition to our furniture.  The way the chairs multiplied was marvelous, and the number of sofas that accumulated in our parlor would have been gratifying to a Grand Turk.  We suddenly grew plethoric in wash-stands, and appeared to possess armoires and bureaus in quantities and varieties sufficient (as the advertisements say) to suit the most fastidious taste.  Even the bath-room did not seem to be neglected,