“My orders were——. Awright, sir, ‘cause of the wife and kids I’ll do it.”
That night Peter thought matters out. It was he and his Uncle Waffles against the world. He did not accuse anybody, neither his father, nor Aunt Jehane; but there was a mistake somewhere. They did not understand. Whatever Uncle Waffles had done, to Peter he was still a good man.
Peter crept out of bed and across the landing to a window in the front of the house. He peered into the blackness. By the railing of the fields, at a point mid-way between two gas-lamps where shadows lay deepest, he could see a figure watching. He must save Uncle Waffles from that.
School had broken up. It was the twenty-fourth of December. There was still no news of Ocky. In their anxiety they had almost forgotten that to-morrow would be Christmas.
That morning Barrington dawdled over his breakfast, postponing his departure for business. His wife glanced down the table at him, trying to conjecture the motive of his dallying. Presently he signaled her with his eyes, raising his brows at the children. When she had excused them, he turned to her and Jehane. “Whatever’s happened or is going to happen, we don’t want to rob the kiddies of their pleasure, do we? We’ve got to pull ourselves together and pretend to forget and try to be cheerful. What d’you say, Nan?”
“I’d thought of that. But I didn’t like to mention it. Janey and I, working together, can get things ready.”
“All right, then. And I’ll see to the presents.”
He rose and laid his hand on Jehane’s shoulder. “Come, Jehane, things are never so bad but what they may mend. I’ve not always been considerate of you. Let’s be friends.”
It was one of those patched-up truces which, like milestones, were to dot the road of their latent enmity.
Kay’s and Peter’s money-boxes were brought out; their savings for the year were counted. Nan gave to Jehane’s children an equal sum with which to go out and buy presents. Peter was kept running all morning on errands; in the afternoon he was busy decorating with mistletoe and holly. The preparations were so belated that everyone was pressed into service. Tea was over and the dark had fallen when he set out to do his own shopping.