I
did even more; I purchased a lovely bit of ground (though the deed
stands in Tom's name for the present), and Tom has brought up
several plans of cottage-houses, and every evening they are spread
on the dining-room table, and there gather round them four people,
among whom are a white-goods salesman, and a young lady with the
brightest of eyes and cheeks full of roses and lilies. This
latter-named personage has her own opinions of the merits of all
plans suggested, and insisted that whatever plan IS adopted MUST
have a lovely room to be set apart as the exclusive property of
Helen's boys. Young as these gentlemen are I find frequent
occasions to be frightfully jealous of them, but they are unmoved
by either my frowns or persuasions--artifice alone is able to
prevent their monopolizing the time of an adorable being of whose
society I cannot possibly have too much. She insists that when the
ceremony takes place in December, they shall officiate as
groomsmen, and I have not the slightest doubt that she will carry
her point. In fact, I confess to frequent affectionate advances
toward them myself, and when I retire without first seeking their
room and putting a grateful kiss upon their unconscious lips, my
conscience upbraids me with base ingratitude. To think I might yet
be a hopeless bachelor had it not been for them, is to overflow
with thankfulness to the giver of HELEN'S BABIES.
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