Do you think that is a good sort of thing for her to be poking over?

"Doyou think that is a good sort of thing for her to be poking over?Shewomansbootis a nervous child, and I'm afraid it will be bad for her,"said Aunt Myra, watching Rose as she counted vertebr‘, and waggleda hip-joint in its socket with an inquiring expression.

"Anexcellent study, for she enjoys it, and I mean to teach her how tomanage her shoesand bootsnerves so that they won't be a curse to her, as many a woman's becomethrough ignorance or want of thought. To make a mystery or terror ofthese things is a mistake, and I mean Rose shall understand andrespect her body so well that she won't dare to triflebootaustriawith it as most women do."

"Andshe really likes it?"

"Verymuch, auntie! It's all so wonderful, and so nicely planned, you canhardly believe what you see. Just think, there are 600,000,000 airwomentall bootcells in one pair of lungs, and 2,000 pores to a square inch ofsurface; so you see what quantities of air we must have, and whatcare we should take of our skin so all the little doors will open andshut right. And brains, auntie, you've no idea how curious they are;I haven't got to them yet, but I long to, and uncle is going to showme a manikin that boyand the bootyou can take to pieces. Just think how nice it will be to see all theorgans in their places; I only wish they could be made to work asours do."

Itwas funny to see Aunt Myra's face as Rose stood before her talkingrapidly with one hand laid in the friendliest manner on theskeleton's shoulder. Every word both the jordanshoseDoctor and Rose uttered hit the good lady in her weakest spot, and asshe looked and listened a long array of bottles and pill-boxes roseup before her, reproaching her with the "ignorance and want ofthought" that made her what she was, a nervous, dyspeptic,unhappy old woman.

"Well,I don't know but you may be right, Alec, only I wouldn't carryboysbootsit too far. Women don't need much of this sort of knowledge, and arenot fit for it. I couldn't bear to touch that ugly thing, and itgives me the creeps to hear about 'organs,' " said Aunt Myra,with a sigh and her hand on her side.

"Wouldn'tit be a comfort to know that your liver was on the right side,auntie, and narrowhunting boots noton the left!" asked Rose with a naughty laugh in her eyes, forshe had lately learnt that Aunt Myra's liver complaint was not in theproper place.

"It'sa dying world, child, and it don't much matter where the pain is, forsooner or later we all drop airjordan shoesoff and are seen no more," was Aunt Myra's cheerful reply.

"Well,I intend to know what kills me if I can, and meantime, I'm going toenjoy myself in spite of a dying world. I wishsalewomen's winter bootsyou'd do so too, and come and study with uncle, it would do yougood, I'm sure," and Rose went back to counting vertebr‘ withsuch a happy face, that Aunt Myra had not the heart to say a word todampen her ardour.

"Perhapsit's as well to let herboyscowboy boot do what she likes the little while she is with us. But pray becareful of her, Alec, and not allow her to overwork," shewhispered as she went out.

"That'sexactly what I'm trying to do, ma'am, and rather a hard job I findit," he added, as he shut the door, for the dear aunts weredreadfully in his wayskechershiking boots sometimes.