Page:The mislaid uncle (IA mislaiduncle00raym).pdf/89

 *man to be reminded of his duty, and that, too, by a servant, as to suffer his present physical pangs. But he swallowed the lesson with the remainder of his coffee, and bowed his head, resolving that never again while that brown-eyed child sat opposite him should such a reminder be necessary.

As before, with the conclusion of the simple grace, Josephine's tongue and appetite were released from guard, and she commented:

"This is an awful funny Baltimore, isn't it?"

"I don't know. Do you always state a thing and then ask it?" returned Uncle Joe, crisply.

"I 'xpect I do ask a heap of questions. Mamma has to correct me sometimes. But I can't help it, can I? How shall I know things I don't know if I don't ask folks that do know, you know?"

"You'll be a very knowing young person if you keep on," said he.

"Oh! I want to be. I want to know every single thing there is in the whole world. Papa used to say there was a 'why' always, and I like to find out the 'whys.'"