Part 15 (2/2)
The next day, caloo kennels was dropped The Mistress received a letter from Cyril's mother The European trip had been cut short, for business reasons; and the two travelers expected to land in New York on the following Friday
”Who dares say Friday is an unlucky day?” chortled the Master in glee, as his wife reached this stage of the letter
”And,” the Mistress read on, ”ill co Cyril aith us I e could stay longer with you; but Henry ht So we must catch a late afternoon train back to town, and take the night train West Now, I--”
”Most letters are a bore,” interpolated the Master ”Or else they're a bother But this one is a pure rapture Read it more sloon't, you, dear? I want toin every blessed word of hope it contains
Go ahead I'm sorry I interrupted Read on You'll never have such another enthusiastic audience”
”And now,” the Mistress continued her reading, ”I ale word to precious Cyril about our co home so soon We want to surprise him Oh, to think what his lovely face will be like, when he sees us walking in!”
”And to think what MY lovely face will be like, when I see hi out!” exulted the Master ”Laddie, coeousest news ever! Co out of his cave, and across the roo who has beenthe varying shades of the human voice The voices and faces alike of his two adored deities told hi wonderful had happened And, as ever, he rejoiced in their gladness
Lifting hisbarks; the oddly triureat ?” asked Cyril, fro ”
”He's happy,” answered the Mistress
”Why's he happy?” queried the child
”Because his Master and I are happy,” patiently returned the Mistress
”Why are YOU happy?” insisted Cyril
”Because today is Thursday,” put in the Master ”And that means tomorroill be Friday”
”And on Friday,” added the Mistress, ”there's going to be a beautiful surprise for you, Cyril We can't tell you what it is, but--”
”Why can't you tell o ahead and tell one over to the nearest ; and was staring out into the gray-black dusk Mid-winter gripped the dead world; and the twilight air was deathly chill The tall naked treetops stood gaunt and wraithlike against a leaden sky
To the north, the darkness was deepest Evil little puffs of gale stirred the powdery snow intowhite devils It had been a fearful winter, thus far; colder than for a score of years; so cold that many a oodland creature, which usually kept far back in the e and warmth
Deer tracks a-plenty had been seen, close up to the gates of the Place
And, two days ago, in the forest, half a mile away, the Master had co bear Starvation stalked abroad, yonder in the white hills And need for provender had begun to wax stronger a the folk of the wilderness than their inborn dread of hu up,” runs ”A blizzard, perhaps I--I hope it won't delay any inco steamers I hope at least one of them will dock on schedule It--”
He turned back frohtly dialogue was going on Cyril was dehth tiht! What's going to happen that's so nice, Friday?”
”Wait till Friday and see,” laughed the Mistress
”Shucks!” he snorted ”You et s'prised I want to know, NOW Tell ster's voice scaled to an irow red