"John!" said his wife. John assumed a meek expression; and Mrs. John, putting the baby in the cradle, turned to her brother-in-law. "I thought the Army was a hobby with you."
"It was. I've saved up quite a sum, and I'm going to see a lot of fine scenery if my leg doesn't give out."
"Or your bank account," supplemented John.
"Well, or my bank account."
"Draw on me whenever you want passage out West," went on the statesman in chrysalis.
Whereupon they all laughed; not because John had said anything particularly funny, but because there was a good and generous measure of happiness in each heart.
"Bob, there's a ball at the British embassy tonight. You must go with us."
"Impossible!" said Robert. "Remember my leg."
"That will not matter," said Mrs. John; "you need not dance."
"What, not dance? I should die of intermittent fever. And if I did dance, my leg might give out."