Part 22 (1/2)
[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?”