he puffed his cigar.

CHAPTER II.

Birds of Passage.

"Anything, if it's for your good," said Mrs. Stillwater, when the subject of the sailing trip was broached. "Father, this is the finest mignonette I've ever seen."

"Well, I suppose I'll be sick," added Mrs. Bunker dolefully, as she helped her daughter arrange the flowers, "but I'll get used to the motion. As long as we get somewhere sometime, and see something that's worth seeing. Isn't that vase a picture?"

"Well, you must leave that to me, Grandma Chazy. What's the matter with Japan?"

There was a chorus of delight. Indiana jumped wildly up and down the room.

"I'll run in and see the old man to-morrow morning. He'll be glad to hear I'm going to act on his advice. I told him I couldn't pledge myself to do anything until I had first consulted the ladies."

"Well, I guess," said Indiana.

"Let's have lunch; then I must get right down town. You won't see me till dinner."

Their faces fell.

"What are we going to do with ourselves?" said Indiana.

"Go shopping."

This seemed to be a happy idea, and Stillwater congratulating himself that he had suggested an entertainment which appealed to them, kissed his wife, remarking, "Now, don't you go and tire yourself, mother. You can't travel with these other young things."

When Stillwater, the following morning, confided to the noted medical authority that he intended to take his whole family on a sailing voyage to Japan, adding the clause, "We're going to have a real good time," he sank back in his chair, and regarded Stillwater with an expression of patient endurance.

"I thought I had impressed on you, Mr. Stillwater, the necessity of absolute rest and quiet. Rest and quiet; do you understand me?"

"Perfectly! Perfectly! That's what I'm laying my plans for. Three months on a sailing vessel—"

"With your entire family, which includes—?"

"My wife, my daughter, and my mother-in-law."

"A wife, a daughter, and a mother-in-law. None of them deaf or dumb, I presume?"

"Ha, ha, ha! Now you needn't be afraid I shan't have cheerful company. They'll make things hum, I tell you!"

"I don't doubt it for a minute. Mr. Stillwater, I strongly advise this trip without your family. With your family I am as strongly against it. To be confined for three months on a sailing vessel with a wife, a daughter, and a mother-in-law, would be enough to derange any man's nerves, allowing he is perfectly normal when he starts. Now, the consequences in your condition—"

"Now, doctor, you're not sure of your ground. You don't know my family. They're devoted to me."

"Of course," said the Noted Authority, smiling blandly. "That is the trouble."

"Say now. They're not going to do me any harm."

"Intentionally, I hope not."

"Of course they have their little squabbles, but I can manage them all right."

"We might effect a compromise. How old is your daughter?"

"Eighteen. A perfect child. We can do whatever we like with her." Stillwater smiled involuntarily as he uttered this unblushing falsehood, thinking "I mean she can do whatever she likes with us. My words got twisted, that's all."

"Well, suppose we leave your mother-in-law behind, and take your wife and daughter. The latter, I gather, is tractable and easily managed."

"Leave my mother-in-law behind! Oh, I couldn't do that. She's making a great sacrifice for my sake. She's awful seasick but I promised her a good time, once we get to Japan, and I mean to keep my word."

The Noted Authority sighed. "You're quite decided on that point?"

"Quite. Couldn't leave her behind. Wouldn't hurt her feelings for the world."

"There is no more to be said, Mr. Stillwater."

"The sailing trip's off, then?"

"Except you resolve to go alone. In case of nervous derangement I always advise separation. No family."

"Of course, I couldn't presume to argue with you, Doctor. But I'll talk it over with the ladies. They'll never allow me to go alone, though, I'm quite sure of it."

"Is there any necessity to precipitate matters so far?" said the Noted Authority. "Would it not be easier to announce at once quietly and firmly your intention to go, avoiding all preliminary discussion?"

"Oh, you don't know my family; they would not allow that sort of thing. Doctor, are you married?"

"I have been a widower for some years."

"That explains—you've forgotten how it is. You see, my family are a very touchy lot—but I know just how to handle them. We get along swimmingly."

"As these domestic conditions seem inevitable, further discussions seem useless. Talk it over with the ladies. Perhaps with the assistance of your wife, your daughter and your mother-in-law you may arrive at some decision which will be agreeable to all concerned."

"Certainly! Certainly! I'll do as you say—we'll talk it over and we'll hit on something between the lot of us. See you again, Doctor. Good-by."

"He's pretty far gone already, I fear," thought the Noted Authority after Stillwater had departed. "Absolutely afraid to act on his own responsibility."

"What do you think?" cried Stillwater, bursting in on his family about dinner hour. "He won't allow you to go with me on that sailing trip. He says I must go alone."

"Well, pa, you go right back and tell him that we wouldn't think of allowing you to do anything of the kind."

"His office hours are over now, Indiana," said Stillwater, smiling placidly. "Will to-morrow morning do?"

"Oh, father, it would just break my heart to see you going off alone and sick, too."

"Not to be thought of for a minute," said Mrs. Bunker.

"I told him you wouldn't hear of it." Stillwater leaned back in his chair, watching with evident enjoyment the effect of his words. "He said that to confine a perfectly normal person on a sailing vessel for three months with his wife, his daughter, and his mother-in-law, would make him a nervous wreck for life."

"Did he say that, pa?"

"Practically, Indiana."

"Brute," said Mrs. Bunker. "If he once had the privilege of making my acquaintance he might change his views on the matter."