"Aren't you, dear?" she asked sweetly.
"Yes, indeed," answered Aggie, studiously avoiding Jimmy's eye.
"Baby is going to sleep in the spare room with Aggie and Jimmy,"
said Zoie.
"What!" exclaimed Jimmy, too desperate to care what Alfred might
infer.
Ignoring Jimmy's implied protest, Zoie continued sweetly to
Alfred:
"Now, don't worry, dear; go back to your room and finish your
shaving."
"Finish shaving?" repeated Alfred in a puzzled way. Then his
hand went mechanically to his cheek and he stared at Zoie in
astonishment. "By Jove!" he exclaimed, "I had forgotten all
about it. That shows you how excited I am." And with a
reluctant glance toward the cradle, he went quickly from the
room, singing a high- pitched lullaby.
Just as the three conspirators were drawing together for
consultation, Alfred returned to the room. It was apparent that
there was something important on his mind.
"By the way," he said, glancing from one to another, "I forgot to
ask--what's his name?"
The conspirators looked at each other without answering. To
Alfred their delay was annoying. Of course his son had been
given his father's name, but he wished to HEAR someone say so.
"Baby's, I mean," he explained impatiently.
Jimmy felt instinctively that Zoie's eyes were upon him. He
avoided her gaze.
"Jimmy!" called Zoie, meaning only to appeal to him for a name.
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