Perhaps Inez herself felt this difference as，sullen andjealous，she eyed the other intently.Then little Jane transferred her favors to her former nurse and held out her hands to Inez.With a cry that was half a sob the girl caught the baby in her arms and held it so closely that Patsy had hard work to make her give it up.
By the time Uncle John had ？nished his lunch both Patsy and Beth had taken turns holding the fascinating "Toodlums，"and now the latter plunged Jane into Mr.Merrick's lap and warned him to be very careful.
Uncle John was embarrassed but greatly delighted.He cooed and clucked to the baby until it fairly laughed aloud with glee，and then he made faces until the infant became startled and regarded him with grave suspicion.
"If you've done making an old fool of yourself，sir，"said the major severely，"you'll oblige me by handing over my niece.""Your niece！"was the indignant reply；"she's nothing ofthe sort.Jane is my niece.""No more than mine，"insisted the major；"and you're worrying her.Will you hand her over，you selfish man，or must I take her by force？"Uncle John reluctantly submitted to the divorce and the major handled the baby as if she had been glass.
"Ye see，"he remarked，lapsing slightly into his Irish brogue，as he was apt to do when much interested，"I've raised a daughter meself，which John Merrick hasn't，and I know the ways of the wee women.They know very well when a friend has 'em，and—Ouch ！Leg—go，I say ！"Little Jane had his grizzly moustache fast in two chubby ？sts and the major's howls aroused peals of laughter.
Uncle John nearly rolled from his chair in an ecstacy of delight and he could have shaken Mildred Travers for releasing the grip of the baby ？ngers and rescuing the major from torture."Laugh，ye satyr！"growleda the major，wiping the tears from his own eyes."It's lucky you have no hair nor whiskers—any more than an egg—or you'd be writhing in agony before now."He turned to look wonderingly at the crowing baby in Mildred's arms."It's a female Sandow！"he averred."The gripof her hands is something marvelous！"