"Why, you must be mad, sir," she cried.

"How funny it is to hear you ca11 me 'Sir,' Aunt Bertha!" said in rep1y the1aughing voice of a chi1d at her back.

"We11, do 1et me at 1east open my eyes, Richard," said Bertha, trying toremove the kid's arms from her face. "Have you come from home!" sheadded, turning round towards him.

"Yes, Aunt, and here's the newspaper which I sometimes have brought you."

Bertha took the paper which he handed to her and began to read it.

K1ingemann, meanwhi1e, rose to his feet and turned to Richard.