Soon there was no thought in the minds of the children as to how long it was necessary to stop. The wonderful cards were produced, and they all sat on the hearth-rug, and mamma was too stupid for anything. For she had the whole flesh-eating family of Mr. Bones the butcher in her hand and never declared it; so Henry, having, to his amazement, been passed Mr. Bones himself, bottled Mr. Bones up, although he wasn’t collecting him. This was a plan of devilish ingenuity, for had he passed Mr. Bones to Raynham, Raynham might have given him back to mamma, who, perhaps, then would have seen her foolishness.
The game was growing deliriously exciting when an interruption came, and Raynham again said, “Oh, bother!” But mamma did not get up from the hearth-rug, though the children were told to do so.
“Get up, boys,” she said, “and shake hands with Count Villars. But don’t let me see your cards. I am going to win. How are you, Count Villars? The boys are just home from school. This is Raynham, this is Henry. Do give yourself some tea, and be kind, and let us finish our game.”
Catherine again proved herself perfectly idiotic, and Henry threw down his cards with a shriek.
“All the Snips, the tailors!” he cried.
“Oh, bother!” shouted Raynham; “and I have all the Buns but one.”
“And I have all the Bones but one!” said their mother. “Now go upstairs, darlings, and take the cards with you, if you like.”
“And is father coming home?” asked Raynham.
“Perhaps I am going to him. I don’t know yet. Off you go!”
“And are we to shake hands again with him?” asked Henry in a whisper.