[EDITOR. THIS IS BETTER. I ORDERED A TURKEY, I REMEMBER. WHAT ABOUT THE MISTLETOE AND HOLLY? I RATHER THINK I ASKED FOR SOME OF THEM.
AUTHOR. WE MUST LET THE READERS TAKE SOMETHING FOR GRANTED
EDITOR. I AM NOT SO SURE. COULDN"T YOU SAY SOMETHING LIKE THIS: "HOLLY AND MISTLETOE HUNG IN FESTOONS UPON THE WALL?"]
Indeed, even holly and mistletoe hung in festoons upon the wall.
[EDITOR. THANK YOU.]
With a sigh of content Hardrow flung himself into a chair, and seized a knife and fork. Soon a plate liberally heaped with good things was before him. Greedily he set to work, with the appet.i.te of a man who had not tasted food for several hours....
"Dood-evening," said a voice. "Are you Father Kwistmas?"
Robert turned suddenly, and gazed in amazement at the white-robed figure in the doorway.
"Elsie," he murmured huskily.
[EDITOR. HOW DID HE KNOW? AND WHY "HUSKILY"?
AUTHOR. HE DIDN"T KNOW, HE GUESSED. AND HIS MOUTH WAS FULL.]
"Are you Father Kwistmas?" repeated Elsie.
Robert felt at his chin, and thanked Heaven again that he had let his beard grow. Almost mechanically he decided to wear the mask--in short, to dissemble.
"Yes, my dear," he said. "I just looked in to know what you would like me to bring you."
"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 HER.
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 lightly, "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.