“But you said four, mother.”
“Twins the last twice,” interjected Barney.
“Great snakes!” cried Dick, “let us hope she won't get the habit.”
“But, mother,” inquired Barney seriously, “what's to be done?”
“Indeed, I can't tell,” said his mother.
“Listen to me,” cried Dick, “I've got an inspiration. I'll undertake the 'good cheer.' I'll impress the young ladies into this worthy service. Light conversation and song. And you can put up the food, mother, can't you?”
“We will see,” said the mother quietly; “we will do our best.”
“In that case the 'food department' is secure,” said Dick; “already I see Ben Fallows making rapid strides toward convalescence.”
It was characteristic of Barney that within a few days he had all three departments in full operation. With great tact he succeeded in making Mrs. Fallows thoroughly scour the woodwork and whitewash the walls in Ben's little room, urging the doctor's orders and emphasizing the danger of microbes, the dread of which was just beginning to obtain in popular imagination.
“Microbes? What's them?” inquired Mrs. Fallows, suspiciously.