Publisher's Synopsis
Sometimes the little boy who calls me father brings me an invitation from his mother: "Ishall be so pleased if you will come and see me," and I always reply in some such words asthese: "Dear madam, I decline." And if David asks why I decline, I explain that it is because Ihave no desire to meet the woman."Come this time, father," he urged lately, "for it is her birthday, and she is twenty-six,"which is so great an age to David, that I think he fears she cannot last much longer."Twenty-six, is she, David?" I replied. "Tell her I said she looks more."