_Mrs. Stilton._ Buy him one, by all means--he will probably take the colour out of my new carpets with it--but, of course, _that_'s of no consequence to _you_! _Mrs. Bloom._ Oh dear, I _quite_ forgot your beautiful carpets. No, to be sure, that might----but one of those little butcher's shops, now!--they're really _quite_ cheap! _Mrs. S._ _I_ always thought cheapness was a question of what a person could _afford_. _Mrs. Bloom._ But I _can_ afford it, dear SOPHIA--thanks to dear JOHN'S bounty, and--and _yours_. _Mrs. S._ You mustn't thank _me_. _I_ had nothing to do with it. I warned JOHN at the time that it would only----and it seems I was right. And REGGIE has a butcher's shop--a really good one--already. In fact, I couldn't tell you what he _hasn't_ got! _Reggie._ _I_ can, though, Aunt VINNIE. I haven't got a train, for _one_ thing! (_To his Mother, as she drags him on._) I _should_ like a little tin train, to go by clockwork on rails so. Do let Auntie----what's she staying behind for? _Mrs. Bloom. (catching them up, and thrusting a box into_ REGGIE'S _hands)._ There, dear boy, there's your train--with Aunt VINNIE'S love! (REGGIE _opens the box, and discovers a wooden train_.) What's the matter, darling? Isn't it----? _Mrs. S._ He had rather set his heart on a clockwork one with rails--which I was thinking of getting for him--but I am sure he's very much obliged to his Aunt all the same--_aren't_ you, REGINALD? _Reggie (with a fortunate inspiration)._ Thank you _ever_ so much, Auntie! And I like this train better than a tin one--because all the doors open really--it's _exactly_ what I wanted! _Mrs. S._ That's so like REGGIE--he never says anything to hurt people's feelings if he can possibly help it. _Mrs. B. (with meek ambiguity)._ Ah, dear SOPHIA, you set him such an _example_, you see! (REGGIE _wonders why she squeezes his hand so_.) [Illustration: "Er--I want a Toy of some sort--for a _Child_, don't you know!"] _A Vague Man (to Saleswoman)._ Er--I want a toy of some sort--for a _child_, don't you know. (_As if he might require it for an elderly person._) At least, it's not _exactly_ a child--it can _talk_, and all that. _Salesw._ Will you step inside, Sir? We've a large assortment within to select from. Is it for a boy or a girl? _The Vague Man._ It's a boy--that is, its name's EVELYN--of course, that's a girl's name too; but it had better be some thing that doesn't--I mean something it can't----[_He runs down._ _Salesw._ I _quite_ understand, Sir. One of these little 'orses and carts are a very nice present for a child--(_with languid commendation_)--the little 'orse takes out and all. _The V. M._ Um--yes--but I want something more--a different _kind_ of thing altogether. _Salesw._ We sell a great many of these rag-dolls; all the clothes take off and on. _The V. M._ Isn't that rather----and then, for a boy, eh? _Salesw._ P'raps a box of wooden soldiers _would_ be a more suitable toy for a boy, certainly.