He had, indeed, known almost his old customary peace and freedom from interruption, with only an occasional flitting across his path of the strange women and babies--though he had realized, of course, that they were in the house, especially in the nursery.

For that reason, therefore, he always avoided the nursery when possible.

But to-day he wanted his wife, and his wife was not to be found anywhere else in the house.

So, reluctantly, he turned his steps toward the nursery, and, with a frown, knocked and pushed open the door.
"Is Mrs.Henshaw here ?" he demanded, not over gently.
Absolute silence greeted his question.

The man saw then that there was no one in the room save a baby sitting on a mat in the middle of the floor, barricaded on all sides with pillows.
With a deeper frown the man turned to go, when a gleeful "Ah--goo!" halted his steps midway.