[p vii]
]TO THE BEST WOMAN IN THE WORLD

E. T., Sydney.

[p ix]
]CONTENTS

CHAP. PAGE
I.[THE BURDEN OF IT][1]
II.[THE RED ROAD COUNTRY][11]
III.[DOT AND LARRIE FALL OUT][21]
IV.[THE ‘LITTLE MOTHER’][33]
V.[MORE RIFTS IN THE LUTE][45]
VI.[LARRIE THE LOAFER][58]
VII.[A POCKET MADAME MELBA][73]
VIII.[PICTURES IN THE FIRE][83]
IX.[A CONFLICT OF WILLS][97]
X.[A DARN ON A DRESS][111]
XI.[A QUESTION OF OWNERSHIP][124]
XII.[A LITTLE DIPLOMAT][131]
XIII.[DOT GOES BABY LIFTING][140]
XIV.[THE WHEEL IN THE BRAIN][147]
XV.[SULLIVAN WOOSTER, GENTLEMAN][154]

[p 1]
]THE STORY OF A BABY

CHAPTER I
THE BURDEN OF IT

Larrie had been carrying it for a long way and said it was quite time Dot took her turn.

Dot was arguing the point.

She reminded him of all athletic sports he had taken part in, and of all the prizes he had won; she asked him what was the use of being six-foot-two and an impossible number of inches round the chest if he could not carry a baby.

Larrie gave her an unexpected glance and moved the baby to his other arm; he was heated and unhappy, there seemed absolutely [p 2] ]no end to the red, red road they were traversing, and Dot, as well as refusing to help to carry the burden, laughed aggravatingly at him when he said it was heavy.