He wheeled sharply.
"Er--eh ?" he queried, uncertainly eyeing his small son on the floor.
"Ah--goo!" observed the infant (who had been very lonesome), with greater emphasis; and this time he sent into his father's eyes the most bewitching of smiles.
"Well, by George!" murmured the man, weakly, a dawning amazement driving the frown from his face.
"Spgggh--oo--wah!" gurgled the boy, holding out two tiny fists.
A slow smile came to the man's face.
"Well, I'll--be--darned," he muttered half-shamefacedly, wholly delightedly.

"If the rascal doesn't act as if he--knew me!" "Ah--goo--spggghh!" grinned the infant, toothlessly, but entrancingly.
With almost a stealthy touch Cyril closed the door back of him, and advanced a little dubiously toward his son.

His countenance carried a mixture of guilt, curiosity, and dogged determination so ludicrous that it was a pity none but baby eyes could see it.

As if to meet more nearly on a level this baffling new acquaintance, Cyril got to his knees--somewhat stiffly, it must be confessed--and faced his son.
"Goo--eee--ooo--yah!" crowed the baby now, thrashing legs and arms about in a transport of joy at the acquisition of this new playmate.
"Well, well, young man, you--you don't say so!" stammered the growingly-proud father, thrusting a plainly timid and unaccustomed finger toward his offspring.

"So you do know me, eh?
Well, who am I ?" "Da--da!" gurgled the boy, triumphantly clutching the outstretched finger, and holding on with a tenacity that brought a gleeful chuckle to the lips of the man.
"Jove! but aren't you the strong little beggar, though! Needn't tell me you don't know a good thing when you see it! So I'm 'da-da,' am I ?" he went on, unhesitatingly accepting as the pure gold of knowledge the shameless imitation vocabulary his son was foisting upon him.