They fell into silence after that. With his arms about her he thought that he might not come back, and she clinging to him had the same thought. But neither told the other. "Do you know," she said at last, sitting up and sticking the hairpins into her crinkled knot. "Do you know that it's almost time for dinner, and that the General will wonder where I am?" "I told Bronson not to tell him." "Oh, really, Derry? Let's make it a great surprise." Providentially the General was late. He and the children came home to find the house quite remarkably illumined, and Margaret flushed and excited, and in white. "Is it a party, Mother?" Teddy asked, lending his shoulder manfully to the General's hand, as, with the chauffeur on the other side, they helped the old man up the stairs. "No, but on such a rainy night Bronson and I thought we'd have a little feast. Don't you think that would be fun?" The General was tired. "I had planned not to come down again--" "Please do," she begged, Bronson, knowing his master's moods, was on tip-toe with anxiety. "I've your things all laid out, sir." "Well, well, I'll see." Teddy, somewhat out of breath as they reached the top landing was inspired to remark, "We'll be 'spointed if you don't come down--" "You want me, eh?" "Yes, I do. There isn't any other man--" The General chuckled. "Well, that's reason enough--. You can count on me, Ted, for masculine support." The table was laid for six. Teddy appearing presently in the dining room pointed out the fact to Bronson, who was taking a last look. "Is Margaret-Mary coming down?" "She may later, for the sweets." "Those aren't her spoons and forks." "Well, well," said Bronson, "so they aren't"; but he did not have them changed. The General in his dinner coat, perfectly groomed, immaculate, found Jean in rose and silver waiting for him. "How gay we are," he said, and pinched her cheek. Teddy in white linen and patent leathers also approved. "You've got on your spangly dwess, and it makes you pwetty--" "Oh, Ted, is it just my clothes that make me pretty?" "I didn't mean that. Only tonight you're so nice and--shining." She shone, indeed, with such effulgence, that it was a wonder that the General did not suspect. But he did not, even when she said, "We have a surprise for you." "For me, my dear?" "Yes. A parcel--it came this afternoon. We want you to untie the string." "Where is it?" Teddy demanded. "On the table in the blue room." Teddy rushed in ahead of the rest, came back and reported, "It's a big one." It was a big one, cone-shaped and tied up in brown paper. It was set on a heavy carved table, a length of tapestry was under it and hid the legs of the table. "It looks like a small tree," the General remarked. "But why all this air of mystery?" He was plainly bored by the fuss they were making. He was tired, and he wanted his dinner.