He protests. "Mr. Amber said so, you know."
"What did he say, dear?"
"Only Burdons, Aunt Maggie."
She placed the cap on his head and took his face between her hands and kissed him. She looked up, and all about the hall, and high to where, around the gallery, portraits of bygone Burdons looked steadily down upon her; and her lips moved as if she spoke some message that she signalled with her eyes.
"Whoever are you talking to, Aunt Maggie?"
She put her hands on his shoulders as he stood sturdily there, the jolly red fisher cap on the back of his head, a puzzled expression in his face, and she held him a pace from her. "Say the motto, Percival, dear—the Burdon motto. Do you remember it? Say it while you have your cap on—out loud!"
"Is it a game, Aunt Maggie?"
"Say it quickly, dear—out loud!"
"I hold!" says Percival, clear and sharp.
In the gallery behind him there was a sound of movement. He turned quickly and saw a man's figure step hastily away.