"You"re late, aren"t oo? Oughtn"t oo to have come this morning?"
(--Editor.-- _This is splendid. This quite reconciles me to the absence of the robin. But what was Elsie doing downstairs?_
--Author.-- _I am making Robert ask her that question directly._
--Editor.-- Yes, but just tell me now--between friends.
--Author.-- _She had left her golliwog in the room, and couldn"t sleep without it._
--Editor.-- _I knew that was it._)
"If I"m late, dear," said Robert, with a smile, "why, so are you."
The good food and wine in his veins were doing their work, and a pleasant warmth was stealing over Hardrow. He found to his surprise that airy banter still came easy to him.
"To what," he continued, "do I owe the honour of this meeting?"
"I came downstairs for my dolly," said Elsie. "The one you sent me this morning, do you remember?"
"Of course I do, my dear."
"And what have you bwought me now, Father Kwistmas?"
Robert started. If he was to play the role successfully he must find something to give her now. The remains of the turkey, a pair of finger-bowls, his old hat--all these came hastily into his mind, and were dismissed. He had nothing of value on him. All had been p.a.w.ned long ago.
Stay! The gold locket studded with diamonds and rubies, which contained Alice"s photograph. The one memento of her that he had kept, even when the pangs of starvation were upon him. He brought it from its resting-place next his heart.
"A little something to wear round your neck, child," he said. "See!"
"Thank oo," said Elsie. "Why, it opens!"
"Yes, it opens," said Robert moodily.
"Why, it"s Alith! Sister Alith."
(--Editor.-- _Ha!_
--Author.-- _I thought you"d like that._)
Robert leapt to his feet as if he had been shot.
"Who?" he cried.
"My sister Alith. Does oo know her too?"
Alice"s sister! Heavens! He covered his face with his hands.
The door opened.
(--Editor.-- _Ha again!_)
"What are you doing here, Elsie?" said a voice. "Go to bed, child. Why, who is this?"
"Father Kwithmath, thithter."
(--Editor.-- _How exactly do you work the lisping?_
--Author.-- _What do you mean? Don"t children of Elsie"s tender years lisp sometimes?_
--Editor.-- _Yes, but just now she said "Kwistmas" quite correctly_----
--Author.-- _I am glad you noticed that. That was an effect which I intended to produce. Lisping is brought about by placing the tongue upon the hard surface of the palate, and in cases where the subject is unduly excited or influenced by emotion the lisp becomes more p.r.o.nounced. In this case---- _
--Editor.-- _Yeth, I thee._)
"Send her away," cried Robert, without raising his head.
The door opened, and closed again. "Well," said Alice calmly, "and who are you? You may have lied to this poor child, but you cannot deceive me. You are _not_ Father Christmas."
The miserable man raised his shamefaced head and looked haggardly at her.
"Alice!" he muttered, "don"t you remember me?"
She gazed at him earnestly.
"Robert! But how changed!"
"Since we parted, Alice, much has happened."
"Yet it seems only yesterday that I saw you!"
(--Editor.-- _It_ --WAS-- _only yesterday._
--Author.-- _Yes, yes. Don"t interrupt now, please._)
"To me it has seemed years."
"But what are you doing here?" said Alice.
"Rather, what are _you_ doing here?" answered Robert.
(--Editor.-- _I think Alice"s question was the more reasonable one._)
"I live here."
Robert gave a sudden cry.
"Your house! Then I have broken into your house! Alice, send me away!
Put me in prison! Do what you will to me! I can never hold up my head again."