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Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. Excerpt from book: Section 3textit{9 CHAPTER 111 HIS CHRISTENING ' But haven't I told you that I was just writing the very name when Annie came in to warn me ?' Mr. Knight addressed the question, kindly and mildly, yet with a hint of annoyance, to his young wife, who was nursing their son with all the experience of three months' practice. It was Sunday morning, and they had finished breakfast in the sitting-room. Within an hour or two the heir was to be taken to the Great Queen Street Wes- leyan Methodist Chapel for the solemn rite of baptism. ' Yes, lovey,' said Mrs. Knight. ' You've told me, time and again. But, oh Henry ! Your name's just Henry Knight, and I want his to be just Henry Knight, too ! I want him to be called after you.' And the mother, buxom, simple, and adoring, glanced appealingly with bright eyes at the man who for her epitomized the majesty and perfections of his sex. ' He will be Henry Knight,' the father persisted, rather coldly. But Mrs. Knight shook her head. Then Aunt Annie came into the room, pushing Tom before her. Tom was magnificently uncomfortable in his best clothes. * What's the matter, Sue ?' Aunt Annie demanded, as soon as she had noticed her sister's face. And in a moment, in the fraction of a second, and solely by reason of Aunt Annie's question, the situation became serious. It jumped up, as domestic situations sometimes do, suddenly to the temperature at which thunderstorms are probable. It grew close, heavy, and perilous. Mrs. Knight shook her head again. ' Nothing,' she managed to reply. ' Susan wants ' Mr. Knight began suavely to explain. ' He keeps on saying he would like him to be called ' Mrs. Knight burst out. ' No I don't—no I don't!' Mr. Knight interrupted. ' Not if you don't wish it!' A silence followed. Mr. Knight drummed lightly an...
