“To tell the truth, the little man—­I mean Mr. Tubbs—­at first rather enjoyed his new magnitude.  He had experienced mortification so long on account of his diminutive stature, that he felt a little exhilarated at the idea of being able to look down on those to whom he had hitherto felt compelled to look up.  It was rather awkward to have people afraid of him.  As he turned to leave the square, for the exhibitor of the show had run off in the general panic, he could see people looking at him from third-story windows, and pointing at him with outstretched fingers and mouths agape.

" ‘Really,’ thought Thomas Tubbs, ’I never expected to be such an object of interest.  I think I’ll go home.’

“His house was a mile off, but so large were his strides that five minutes carried him to it.

“Now Mrs. Tubbs was busy putting the dinner on the table, and wondering why her husband did not make his appearance.  She was fully determined to give him a scolding in case his delay was so great as to cause the dinner to cool.  All at once she heard a bustle at the door.  Looking into the entry, she saw a huge man endeavoring to make his entrance into the house.  As the portal was only seven feet in height, it was not accomplished without a great deal of twisting and squirming.  “Mrs. Tubbs turned pale.

" ‘What are you trying to do, you monster?’ she faltered.

" ‘I have come home to dinner, Mary,’ was the meek reply.

" ‘Come home to dinner!’ exclaimed Mrs. Tubbs, aghast.  ’Who in the name of wonder are you, you overgrown brute?’

" ’Who am I? asked the giant, smiling feebly, for he began to feel a little queer at this reception from the wife with whom he had lived for fifteen years.  ’Ha! ha! don’t you know your own husband—­your Tommy?’

" ‘My husband!’ exclaimed Mrs. Tubbs, astonished at the fellow’s impudence.  ‘You, don’t mean to say that you are my husband?’

" ‘Of course I am,’ said Thomas.

" ‘Then,’ said Mrs. Tubbs, ’I would have you know that my husband is a respectable little man, not half your size.’

" ‘Oh, dear!’ thought Thomas.  ’Well, here’s a kettle of fish; my own wife won’t own me!’

" ‘So I was,’ he said aloud.  ’I was only four feet six; but I’ve—­I’ve grown.’

" ‘Grown!’ Mrs. Tubbs laughed hysterically.  ’That’s a likely story, when it’s only an hour since my husband went into the street as short as ever.  I only wish he’d come in, I do, to expose your imposition.’

" ‘But I have grown, Mary,’ said Tubbs piteously.  ’I was out in the crowd, and I couldn’t see what was going on, and so I wished I was ten feet high; and, before I knew it, I was as tall as I am now.’

" ‘No doubt,’ said Mrs. Tubbs incredulously, ’As to that, all I’ve got to say is, that you’d better wish yourself back again, as I sha’n’t own you as my husband till you do!’

" ‘Really,’ thought Mr. Tubbs, ‘this is dreadful!  What can I do!’