"Bill an' I looked at each other an' laughed. Her talk convinced me of one thing—that her trouble was not the lack of a brain.
"'You're always making fun of me,' she said. 'Why don't you give me something to do?'
"'Suppose you wash the dishes?' said Bill.
"'Would it please you?'
"'Anything that pleases you pleases me.'
"'I saw that she, too, was goin' to try to keep up with Lizzie, an' I decided that I'd help her. When we arrived at the villa we made our way to its front door through a pack of collie dogs out for an airing.
"'By-the-way,' I said, when we sat down to luncheon at Bill's house, 'congratulate me. I'm a candidate for new honors.'
[Illustration: I'm a candidate for new honors.]
"'Those of a husband? I've been hoping for that—you stubborn old bachelor.' said Mrs. Bill, expectantly.
"'No,' I answered, 'I'm to be a father.'