lilies.  This latter-named personage has her own opinions of the merits of all plans suggested, and insisted that whatever plan is adopted must have a lovely room to be set apart as the exclusive property of Helen’s boys.  Young as these gentlemen are I find frequent occasions to be frightfully jealous of them, but they are unmoved by either my frowns or persuasions—­artifice alone is able to prevent their monopolizing the time of an adorable being of whose society I cannot possibly have too much.  She insists that when the ceremony takes place in December, they shall officiate as groomsmen, and I have not the slightest doubt that she will carry her point.  In fact, I confess to frequent affectionate advances toward them myself, and when I retire without first seeking their room and putting a grateful kiss upon their unconscious lips, my conscience upbraids me with base ingratitude.  To think I might yet be a hopeless bachelor had it not been for them, is to overflow with thankfulness to the giver of Helen’s babies.

The end.