Part 23 (1/2)

”I quite agree with you,” interposed Paul.

”And I think that my change of opinion about religious things will help, rather than hinder me in my work,” continued Sally, with a slight effort.

”Let us hope it may,” said Paul, in a tone that implied a doubt on the subject. ”Anyway, I wish you to follow your own plan of life. I think women ought to be as free as men to choose what they will do.

But”--with a glance from the window--”Miss Kitty's carriage stops the way. I must go and see what she wants.”

”Why, Kitty,” he began, almost before he had reached the gate, ”I thought you had forgotten all about me! It is days, almost weeks, I think, since you've paid me a call.”

”It's because it has rained nearly every day and I've not been out at all; and there are such a lot of things I want to ask you about.”

Paul was Kitty's referee on every subject. ”What is the first, I wonder?” he said, smiling down at her.

”Bend down, please, Mr. Paul. It's a secret.”

And Paul brought his ear to a level with Kitty's mouth.

”Do boys like Noah's Arks?”

Paul straightened himself with a burst of laughter.

”I thought you would know. Nurse said you'd be sure to know,” Kitty said, much injured by his untimely mirth.

”It's just because I don't that I am laughing,” said Paul, whose remembrance of childhood was unconnected with any scriptural game.

That he should be solemnly consulted about one seemed extremely ludicrous.

”Then you did not have one?”

”No, I did not.”

”I suppose it won't do, after all,” said Kitty, dejectedly. ”And it's a real beauty; it cost half a crown.”

”Really! That's a big price. I should think it might do for any one.

After all, an ark might come in handy soon, if we are going to have a flood. Who's the happy boy?”

”Oh, you are shouting!” cried Kitty, warningly. ”And it's a secret.”

”I beg your pardon,” said Paul, penitently. ”Shall I look in and give an opinion?”

”Yes; you and Sally, too. Perhaps you would come to tea with me this afternoon? Daddy is gone to a Congress, or he could have told me everything.”

”Yes, we will come--Sally and I.”

”And then I can tell you all about it, for Nurse knows but has promised not to tell.”

”We will try to be as trustworthy as Nurse,” Paul said with a rea.s.suring nod.

So, over tea and toast, after three false guesses on Paul and Sally's part, Kitty divulged her tremendous secret, which turned out to be that daddy had promised that when she was ten years old she should give a Christmas-tree party to every child in Rudham from ten years and under, and the whole responsibility of choosing the presents and a.s.sorting them should devolve upon her. For months past Kitty had been making out her list of the children she would have to invite, rather bewildering the villagers by her feverish anxiety to discover the ages of their offspring; but the choosing of suitable presents for her guests was a far more difficult task. A large box of toys had arrived, by her father's order, from a neighbouring town, from which Kitty could make a selection; she had spent one whole day poring over them. Girls were easy enough to please, but boys' tastes were quite a different matter. So Nurse had finally suggested that Mr. Lessing should be taken into confidence. Happily, by the afternoon he had grasped the gravity of the situation, and he discussed the varying merits of tops, marbles, horses, and carts as earnestly as even Kitty could desire. He still felt a lurking desire to laugh when he saw the Noah's Ark, which cost half a crown, set apart in a place by itself on Kitty's couch.

From time to time she laid a caressing hand upon it. It was still unallotted, and Kitty gave a quivering sigh of excitement as she glanced down her crumpled list.

”I had meant this for Tommy Baird,” she said, looking down at it fondly. ”It's quite the best thing I have--and he's the oldest boy,--and it's very pretty, daddy thinks; but you say it won't do.”