"Bully!" exclaimed John, very improperly. "See how strong I'm getting, papa!" and he threw out his fist suddenly, giving his father a very uncomfortable punch in the side.
"I'm glad you didn't illustrate on me," said Eric, laughing. "Uncle John, are you a tester?"
"I'm an _at_testor, certainly," replied his uncle. "Johnny, if you demonstrate your power of strength so forcibly and practically, some one will apply oil of birch to you."
"Then I'll be in first-rate running order," retorted Johnny, "and you'll have to take me to Strasbourg."
As they all sat, merrily talking, Dr. Ward returned, and was pleased and surprised enough to find his unexpected guests. His greeting was very cordial.
Eric he was particularly glad to see; he had been worried about leaving him so long, alone, at the Hague; and Johnny had been too ill to travel or to be left with strangers, and Eric was too inexperienced, his uncle thought, to go from the Hague to Paris alone. So it was quite a relief to find him safely at hand.
"And now," he said, after talking about home affairs for quite a while, "I see my way out of a dilemma. I have been anxious to attend two or three medical lectures at Heidelberg, and if you will look after the boys for a day or two, I can have my desire."
"Certainly; I will for a day or two. At the end of that time I must go home. Here's this dutiful boy of mine, with never a word for mamma, Annie, or Adolphe.
"Well," said Johnny, remonstrating, "you took me so by surprise, papa, that I forgot all about them."
"Your filial affection must be strong," said his father, laughing at him.
Johnny did not like this, and proposed to Eric to take a walk, and "see Paris."
While they were gone, Mr. Van Rasseulger arranged with the doctor to meet them again at Heidelberg; meanwhile he would keep the boys with him for a week. They would leave Paris the next day, if John was well enough.
Mr. Van Rasseulger explained that he had been obliged to visit Rotterdam and Hague suddenly on business, and must go to Vienna, in Austria, and start for home, within a fortnight.
"Don't neglect to take the boy to Munich, and show him to his grandfather; and don't forget your promise to 'make him as hearty and strong as Eric,'" he said.