`` Poor little man , he 's worn out with sleep and crying . I 'll cover him up , and then go and set Meg 's heart at rest , '' thought John , creeping to the bedside , hoping to find his rebellious heir asleep . But he was n't , for the moment his father peeped at him , Demi 's eyes opened , his little chin began to quiver , and he put up his arms , saying with a penitent hiccough , `` Me 's dood , now . '' Sitting on the stairs outside Meg wondered at the long silence which followed the uproar , and after imagining all sorts of impossible accidents , she slipped into the room to set her fears at rest . Demi lay fast asleep , not in his usual spreadeagle attitude , but in a subdued bunch , cuddled close in the circle of his father 's arm and holding his father 's finger , as if he felt that justice was tempered with mercy , and had gone to sleep a sadder and wiser baby . So held , John had waited with a womanly patience till the little hand relaxed its hold , and while waiting had fallen asleep , more tired by that tussle with his son than with his whole day 's work . As Meg stood watching the two faces on the pillow , she smiled to herself , and then slipped away again , saying in a satisfied tone , `` I never need fear that John will be too harsh with my babies . He does know how to manage them , and will be a great help , for Demi is getting too much for me . '' When John came down at last , expecting to find a pensive or reproachful wife , he was agreeably surprised to find Meg placidly trimming a bonnet , and to be greeted with the request to read something about the election , if he was not too tired . John saw in a minute that a revolution of some kind was going on , but wisely asked no questions , knowing that Meg was such a transparent little person , she could n't keep a secret to save her life , and therefore the clue would soon appear . He read a long debate with the most amiable readiness and then explained it in his most lucid manner , while Meg tried to look deeply interested , to ask intelligent questions , and keep her thoughts from wandering from the state of the nation to the state of her bonnet . In her secret soul , however , she decided that politics were as bad as mathematics , and that the mission of politicians seemed to be calling each other names , but she kept these feminine ideas to herself , and when John paused , shook her head and said with what she thought diplomatic ambiguity , `` Well , I really do n't see what we are coming to . '' John laughed , and watched her for a minute , as she poised a pretty little preparation of lace and flowers on her hand , and regarded it with the genuine interest which his harangue had failed to waken . `` She is trying to like politics for my sake , so I 'll try and like millinery for hers , that 's only fair , '' thought John the Just , adding aloud , `` That 's very pretty . Is it what you call a breakfast cap ? '' `` My dear man , it 's a bonnet ! My very best go-to-concert-and-theater bonnet . '' `` I beg your pardon , it was so small , I naturally mistook it for one of the flyaway things you sometimes wear . How do you keep it on ? '' `` These bits of lace are fastened under the chin with a rosebud , so , '' and Meg illustrated by putting on the bonnet and regarding him with an air of calm satisfaction that was irresistible .
`` It 's a love of a bonnet , but I prefer the face inside , for it looks young and happy again , '' and John kissed the smiling face , to the great detriment of the XXXXX under the chin .
Demi John Meg accidents day dood harangue minute rosebud spreadeagle