His face covered with lather, and a shaving brush in one hand, Alfred
entered the room just as his friend was about to escape.
"Jimmy!" exclaimed the excited young father, "you're back."
"Oh, yes--yes," admitted Jimmy nervously, "I'm back."
"My boy!" cried Alfred, and he glanced toward the crib. "He's here!"
"Yes--yes," agreed Aggie uneasily, as she tried to place herself between
Alfred and the bassinette. "He's here, but you mayn't have him, Alfred."
"What?" exclaimed Alfred, trying to put her out of the way.
"Not yet," protested Aggie, "not just yet."
"Give him to me," demanded Alfred, and thrusting Aggie aside, he took
possession of the small mite in the cradle.
"But--but, Alfred," pleaded Aggie, "your face. You'll get him all wet."
Alfred did not heed her. He was bending over the cradle in an ecstasy.
"My boy!" he cried, "my boy!" Lifting the baby in his arms he circled
the room cooing to him delightedly.
"Was he away from home when his fadder came? Oh, me, oh, my! Coochy!
Coochy! Coochy!" Suddenly he remembered to whom he owed this wondrous
treasure and forgetful of the lather on his unshaven face he rushed
toward Zoie with an overflowing heart. "My precious!" he exclaimed, and
he covered her cheek with kisses.
"Go away!" cried Zoie in disgust and she pushed Alfred from her and
brushed the hateful lather from her little pink check.
But Alfred was not to be robbed of his exaltation, and again he circled
the room, making strange gurgling sounds to Baby.
"Did a horrid old Jimmy take him away from fadder?" he said
sympathetically, in the small person's ear; and he glanced at Jimmy with
frowning disapproval. "I'd just like to see him get you away from me
again!" he added to Baby, as he tickled the mite's ear with the end of
his shaving brush. "Oh, me! oh, my!" he exclaimed in trepidation, as he
perceived a bit of lather on the infant's cheek. Then lifting the boy
high in his arms and throwing out his chest with great pride, he looked
at Jimmy with an air of superiority. "I guess I'm bad, aye?" he said.
Jimmy positively blushed. As for Zoie, she was growing more and more
impatient for a little attention to herself.
"Rock-a-bye, Baby," sang Alfred in strident tones and he swung the child
high in his arms.