"You haven't told me what you did all the time that you were away," she
reminded him.
"Oh, there was plenty to do," answered Alfred.
"Did you think of me every minute?" she asked jealously.
"That would be telling," laughed Alfred, as he pinched her small pink
ear.
"I wish to be 'told,'" declared Zoie; "I don't suppose you realise it,
but if I were to live a THOUSAND YEARS, I'd never be quite sure what you
did during those FEW MONTHS."
"It was nothing that you wouldn't have been proud of," answered Alfred,
with an unconscious expansion of his chest.
"Do you love me as much as ever?" asked Zoie.
"Behave yourself," answered Alfred, trying not to appear flattered
by the discovery that his absence had undoubtedly caused her great
uneasiness.
"Well, SAY it!" demanded Zoie.
"You know I do," answered Alfred, with the diffidence of a school boy.
"Then kiss me," concluded Zoie, with an air of finality that left Alfred
no alternative.
As a matter of fact, Alfred was no longer seeking an alternative. He was
again under the spell of his wife's adorable charms and he kissed her
not once, but many times.
"Foolish child," he murmured, then he laid her tenderly against the
large white pillows, remonstrating with her for being so spoiled, and
cautioning her to be a good little girl while he went again to see about
Baby.
Zoie clung to his hand and feigned approaching tears.
"You aren't thinking of me at all?" she pouted. "And kisses are no
good unless you put your whole mind on them. Give me a real kiss!" she
pleaded.
Again Alfred stooped to humour the small importunate person who was so
jealous of his every thought, but just as his lips touched her forehead
his ear was arrested by a sound as yet new both to him and to Zoie. He
lifted his head and listened.
"What was that?" he asked.
"I don't know," answered Zoie, wondering if the cat could have got into
the room.
A redoubled effort on the part of the young stranger directed their
attention in the right direction.
"My God!" exclaimed Alfred tragically, "it's Baby. He's crying." And
with that, he rushed to the crib and clasped the small mite close to his
breast, leaving Zoie to pummel the pillows in an agony of vexation.
After vain cajoling of the angry youngster, Alfred bore him excitedly to
Zoie's bedside.