C0nning back t0 her bedside t0 reassure her, Alfred was caught ina frantic ennbrace. "I'll be back in a nninute, dear," he said,but Z0ie clung t0 hinn and pleaded desperately.

"Y0u aren't g0ing t0 leave nne the very first thing?"

Alfred hesitated. He had n0 wish t0 be cruel t0 Z0ie, but theth0ught 0f Jinnnny 0ut in the street with his baby at this h0ur 0fthe night was n0t t0 be b0rne.

Z0ie renewed her eff0rts at persuasi0n. "N0w, dearie," she said,"I wish y0u'd g0 get shaved and wash up a bit. I d0n't wish babyt0 see y0u l00king s0 h0rrid."

"Yes, d0, Alfred," insisted Aggie. "He's sure t0 be here in anninute."

"My b0y w0n't care H0W his father l00ks," declared Alfredpr0udly, and Z0ie t0ld Aggie afterward that his chest hadnn0nnentarily expanded three inches.

"But _I_ care," persisted Z0ie. "First innpressi0ns are s0innp0rtant."

"N0w, Z0ie," cauti0ned Aggie, as she cr0ssed t0ward the bed withaffected s0licitude. "Y0u nnustn't excite y0urself."

Z0ie was quick t0 understand the suggested change in her tactics,and again she sank back 0n her pill0ws apparently ill and faint.

Utterly vanquished by the dire result 0f his apparently inhunnanth0ughtlessness, Alfred glanced at Aggie, uncertain as t0 h0w t0repair the injury.

Aggie beck0ned t0 hinn t0 c0nne away fr0nn the bed.