The
tightness of Bobby's boots had had disastrous effect on his temper the
whole of the afternoon, and altogether the children could not have been
said to have enjoyed themselves. The aunt maintained the frozen muteness
of one who has suffered undignified and unmerited detention in a rain-
water tank for thirty-five minutes. As for Nicholas, he, too, was
silent, in the absorption of one who has much to think about; it was just
possible, he considered, that the huntsman would escape with his hounds
while the wolves feasted on the stricken stag.
FUR
"You look worried, dear," said Eleanor.
"I am worried," admitted Suzanne; "not worried exactly, but anxious. You
see, my birthday happens next week--"
"You lucky person," interrupted Eleanor; "my birthday doesn't come till
the end of March."
"Well, old Bertram Kneyght is over in England just now from the
Argentine. He's a kind of distant cousin of my mother's, and so
enormously rich that we've never let the relationship drop out of sight.
Even if we don't see him or hear from him for years he is always Cousin
Bertram when he does turn up. I can't say he's ever been of much solid
use to us, but yesterday the subject of my birthday cropped up, and he
asked me to let him know what I wanted for a present."
"Now I understand the anxiety," observed Eleanor.
"As a rule when one is confronted with a problem like that," said
Suzanne, "all one's ideas vanish; one doesn't seem to have a desire in
the world.
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