Oh，mygriefandconscience，Billy!Itisn’t_the_baby。It’s_babies!_It’stwins——boys。Cyrilhasthemnow——thenursehasn’tgothereyet。’
　　Twins!_Cyril_hasthem!’brokeinBilly，hysterically。
　　Yes，andthey’recryingsomethingterrible。
　　We’vesentforasecondnursetocome，too，ofcourse，butshehasn’tgothereyet，either。Andthosebabies——ifyoucouldhearthem!That’swhatwewantyoufor，to——’
　　ButBillywasalmostlaughingnow。
　　Allright，I’llcomeout——andhearthem，’
　　shecalledabitwildly，asshehungupthereceiver。
　　Somelittletimelater，apalpablynervousmaidadmittedBillytothehomeofMr。andMrs。CyrilHenshaw。Evenasthedoorwasopened，Billyheardfaintly，butunmistakably，themoaningwailsoftwoinfants。
　　Mrs。StetsonsaysifyouwillpleasetohelpMr。Henshawwiththebabies，’stammeredthemaid，afterthepreliminaryquestionsandanswers。I’vebeeninwhenIcould，andthey’reallright，onlythey’recrying。They’reinhisden。
　　Wehadtoputthemasfarawayaspossible——
　　theircryingworriedMrs。Henshawso。’
　　Yes，Isee，’murmuredBilly。I’llgotothematonce。No，don’ttroubletocome。I
　　knowtheway。JusttellMrs。StetsonI’mhere，please，’shefinished，asshetossedherhatandglovesontothehalltable，andturnedtogoupstairs。
　　Billy’sfeetmadenosoundonthesoftrugs。
　　Thecrying，however，grewlouderandlouderassheapproachedtheden。Softlysheturnedtheknobandpushedopenthedoor。Shestoppedshort，then，atwhatshesaw。
　　Cyrilhadnotheardher，norseenher。Hisbackwaspartlytowardthedoor。Hiscoatwasoff，andhishairstoodfiercelyonendasifanervoushandhadruffledit。Hisusuallypalefacewasveryred，andhisforeheadshowedgreatdropsofperspiration。Hewasonhisfeet，hoveringoverthecouch，ateachendofwhichlayarumpledrolloflinen，lace，andflannel，fromwhichemergedaprodigiouslypuckeredlittleface，twouncertainlywavingrose-leaffists，andawailofprotestingragethatwasnotuncertainintheleast。
　　InonehandCyrilheldaTeddybear，intheotherhiswatch，danglingfromitsfobchain。
　　Bothoftheseheshookfeebly，oneaftertheother，abovethetinyfaces。
　　Oh，come，come，prettybaby，goodbaby，hush，hush，’hebeggedagitatedly。
　　InthedoorwayBillyclappedherhandstoherlipsandstifledalaugh。Billyknew，ofcourse，thatwhatsheshoulddowastogoforwardatonce，andhelpthispoor，distractedman；butBilly，justthen，wasnotdoingwhatsheknewsheoughttodo。
　　WithamutteredejaculationwhichBilly，tohersorrow，couldnotcatchCyrillaiddownthewatchandflungtheTeddybearaside。Then，inveryevidentdespair，hegingerlypickeduponeoftherumpledrollsofflannel，lace，andlinen，andhelditstraightoutbeforehim。Afteramoment’sindecisionhebeganawkwardlytojounceit，teeterit，rockitbackandforth，andtopatitjerkily。
　　Oh，come，come，prettybaby，goodbaby，hush，hush，’hebeggedagain，frantically。
　　Perhapsitwasthechangeofposition；perhapsitwasthenoveltyofthemotion，perhapsitwasonlyutterweariness，orlackofbreath。Whateverthecause，thewailingsobsfromthebundleinhisarmsdwindledsuddenlytoagentlewhisper，thenceasedaltogether。
　　Witharayofhopeilluminatinghisdrawncountenance，Cyrilcarefullylaidthebabydownandpickeduptheother。Almostconfidentlynowhebeganthejouncingandteeteringandrockingasbefore。
　　There，there!Oh，come，come，prettybaby，goodbaby，hush，hush，’hechantedagain。
　　Thistimehewasnotsosuccessful。Perhapshehadlosthisskill。Perhapsitwasmerelytheworld-olddifferenceinbabies。Atallevents，thisinfantdidnotcareforjerksandjounces，andshoweditplainlybyemittingloudandyetlouderwailsofrage——wailsinwhichhisbrotheronthecouchspeedilyjoined。
　　Oh，come，come，prettybaby，goodbaby，hush，hush——_confoundit_，HUSH，Isay!’explodedthefrightened，weary，baffled，distractedman，pickinguptheotherbaby，andtryingtoholdbothhissonsatonce。
　　Billyhurriedforwardthen，tearfully，remorsefully，herfaceallsympathy，herarmsalltenderness。
　　Here，Cyril，letmehelpyou，’shecried。
　　Cyrilturnedabruptly。
　　ThankGod，_some_one’scome，’hegroaned，holdingoutboththebabies，withanexuberanceofgenerosity。Billy，you’vesavedmylife!’
　　Billylaughedtremulously。
　　Yes，I’vecome，Cyril，andI’llhelpeverybitIcan；butIdon’tknowathing——notasinglethingaboutthemmyself。Dearme，aren’ttheycunning？But，Cyril，dotheyalwayscryso？’
　　Thefather-of-an-hourdrewhimselfstifflyerect。
　　Cry？Whatdoyoumean？Whyshouldn’ttheycry？’hedemandedindignantly。IwantyoutounderstandthatDoctorBrownsaidthosewereAnumberIfineboys!Anyhow，Iguessthere’snodoubtthey’vegotlungsallright，’headded，withagrimsmile，ashepulledouthishandkerchiefanddrewitacrosshisperspiringbrow。
　　BillydidnothaveanopportunitytoshowCyrilhowmuchorhowlittlesheknewaboutbabies，forinanotherminutethemaidhadappearedwiththeextranurse；andthatyoungwoman，withtrainedcelerityandeasyconfidence，assumedinstantcommand，andspeedilyhadpeaceandorderrestored。
　　Cyril，freedfromresponsibility，castlongingeyes，foramoment，uponhiswork；butthenextminute，withadespairingglanceabouthim，heturnedandfledprecipitately。
　　Billy，followingthedirectionofhiseyes，suppressedasmile。OnthetopofCyril’smanuscriptmusiconthetablelayahot-waterbottle。Drapedoverthebackofhisfavoritechairwasapink-
　　borderedbabyblanket。Onthepiano-stoolrestedaberibbonedandberuffledbaby’stoiletbasket。
　　FrombehindthesofapillowleeredridiculouslytheTeddybear，justasithadleftCyril’sdesperatehand。
　　Nowonder，indeed，thatBillysmiled。BillywasthinkingofwhatMariehadsaidnotaweekbefore：
　　Ishallkeepthebaby，ofcourse，inthenursery。
　　I’vebeeninhomeswherethey’vehadbabythingsstrewnfromoneendofthehousetotheother；butitwon’tbethatwayhere。Inthefirstplace，Idon’tbelieveinit；but，evenifIdid，I’dhavetobecarefulonaccountofCyril。ImagineCyril’stryingtowritehismusicwithababyintheroom!No!Ishallkeepthebabyinthenursery，ifpossible；butwhereveritis，itwon’tbeanywherenearCyril’sden，anyway。’
　　Billysuppressedmanyasmileduringthedaysthatimmediatelyfollowedthecomingofthetwins。Someofthesmiles，however，refusedtobesuppressed。Theybecame，indeed，shamelesslyaudiblechuckles。
　　Billywastosailthetenth，and，naturally，duringthoseearlyJulydays，hertimewasprettymuchoccupiedwithherpreparationsfordeparture；
　　butnothingcouldkeepherfromfrequent，thoughshort，visitstothehomeofherbrother-
　　in-law。
　　Thetwinswereprovingthemselvestobefine，healthyboys。Twotrainedmaids，andtwotrainednursesruledthehouseholdwitharodofiron。AstoCyril——BillydeclaredthatCyrilwaslearningsomethingeverydayofhislifenow。
　　Oh，yes，he’slearningthings，’shesaidtoAuntHannah，onemorning；lotsofthings。
　　Forinstance：hehashisbreakfastnow，notwhenhewantsit，butwhenthemaidwantstogiveittohim——whichispreciselyateighto’clockeverymorning。Sohe’slearningpunctuality。Andforthefirsttimeinhislifehehasdiscoveredtheastoundingfactthatthereareseveralthingsmoreimportantintheworldthanisthespecialpieceofmusichehappenstobecomposing——
　　chieflythetwins’bath，thetwins’nap，thetwins’
　　airing，andthetwins’colic。’
　　AuntHannahlaughed，thoughshefrowned，too。
　　But，surely，Billy，withtwonursesandthemaids，Cyrildoesn’thaveto——to——’Shecametoahelplesspause。
　　Oh，no，’laughedBilly；Cyrildoesn’thavetoreallyattendtoanyofthosethings——thoughIhaveseeneachofthenurses，atdifferenttimes，unhesitatinglythrustatwinintohisarmsandbidhimholdthechildtillshecomesback。Butit’sthisway。Yousee，Mariemustbekeptquiet，andthenurseryisverynearherroom。Itworriesherterriblywheneitherofthechildrencries。
　　Besides，thelittlerascalshaveapparentlyfixedupsomesortoflabor-unioncompactwitheachother，sothatifonecriesforsomethingornothing，theotherpromptlyjoinsinandhelps。Sothenurseshavegotintothehabitofpickingupthefirstdisturberofthepeace，andhurryinghimtoquartersremote；andCyril’sdenbeingthemostremoteofall，theyusuallyfetchupthere。’
　　Youmean——theytakethosebabiesintoCyril’sden——_now_？’EvenAuntHannahwasplainlyaghast。
　　Yes，’twinkledBilly。IfancytheirHygienicImmaculaciesapprovedofCyril’sbarefloors，undrapedwindows，andgenerallyknick-
　　knacklesscondition。Anyhow，they’vemadehisdenasortof——ofannextothenursery。’
　　But——butCyril!Whatdoeshesay？’
　　stammeredthedumfoundedAuntHannah。ThinkofCyril’sstandingathinglikethat!Doesn’thedoanything——orsayanything？’
　　Billysmiled，andliftedherbrowsquizzically。
　　MydearAuntHannah，didyoueverknow_many_peopletohavethecourageto`saythings’
　　tooneofthosebecapped，beaproned，bespotlesscreaturesofloftilysuperbsuperiorityknownastrainednurses？Besides，youwouldn’trecognizeCyrilnow。Nobodywould。He’sasmeekasMoses，andhasbeeneversincehistwoyoungsonswerelaidinhisreluctant，tremblingarms。Hebreaksintoacoldsweatatnothing，andmovesabouthisownhomeasifhewereastrangerandaninterloper，enduredmerelyonsufferanceinthisabodeofstrangewomenandstrangebabies。’
　　Nonsense!’scoffedAuntHannah。
　　Butit’sso，’maintainedBilly，merrily。
　　Now，forinstance。YouknowCyrilalwayshasbeeninthehabitofventinghismoodsonthepianojustasIdo，onlymoresobyplayingexactlyashefeels。Well，asnearasIcangather，hewasathisusualtrickthenextdayafterthetwinsarrived；andyoucanimagineaboutwhatsortofmusicitwouldbe，afterwhathehadbeenthroughtheprecedingforty-eighthours。
　　OfcourseIdon’tknowexactlywhathappened，butJulia——Marie’ssecondmaid，youknow——tellsthestory。She’sbeenwiththemlongenoughtoknowsomethingofthewaythewholehouseholdalwaysturnsonthepivotofthemaster’swhims；soshefullyappreciatedthesituation。Shesayssheheardhimbegintoplay，andthatsheneverheardsuchqueer，creepy，shiverymusicinherlife；butthathehadn’tbeenplayingfiveminutesbeforeoneofthenursescameintotheliving-roomwhereJuliawasdusting，andtoldhertotellwhoeverwasplayingtostopthatdreadfulnoise，astheywantedtotakethetwinsintherefortheirnap。
　　`ButIdidn’tdoit，ma’am，’Juliasays。`I
　　wa’n’tlookin’forlosin’myplace，an’Ilettheyoungwomandothejobherself。An’shedoneit，pertasyouplease。An’jestasIwasseekin’
　　ahidin’-placefortheexplosion，ifMr。Henshawdidn’tcomeoutlookin’alittlewild，butasmeekasalamb；an’whenheseesmeheaskedwouldn’tIpleasegethimacupofcoffee，goodan’strong。
　　An’Igotit。’
　　Soyousee，’finishedBilly，Cyrilislearningthings——lotsofthings。’
　　Oh，mygriefandconscience!Ishouldsayhewas，’half-shiveredAuntHannah。_Cyril_
　　lookingmeekasalamb，indeed!’
　　Billylaughedmerrily。