CHAPTER XII
FILMS AND CLOUDS
The films were quite dry by bedtime, when, after a delightful evening with no magic in it at all but the magic of undisturbed jolliness, Edred slipped away, unpinned them and hid them in Elfrida’s corner drawer, which he rightly judged to be a cleaner resting-place for them than his own was likely to be. So there the precious films lay between Elfrida’s best lace collar and the handkerchief-case with three fat buttercups embroidered on it that Aunt Edith had given her at Christmas. And Edred went back to the parlour for one last game of Proverbs before bed. As he took up his cards he thought how strange it was that he, who had been imprisoned in the Tower and had talked with Sir Walter Raleigh, should be sitting there quietly playing Proverbs with his aunt and his sister, just like any other little boy.
“Aha!” said Edred to himself, “I am living a double life, that’s what I’m doing.”
He had seen the expression in a book and the idea charmed him.
“How pleased Edred looks with himself!” said Aunt Edith; “I’m sure he’s got a whole proverb, or nearly, in his hand already.”
“You’ll be looking pleased presently,” he said; “you always win.”
And win she did, for Edred’s thoughts were wandering off after the idea how pleased Aunt Edith would look when he and Elfrida should come to her, take her by the hand, and lead her to the hiding-place of the treasure, and then say, “Behold the treasure of our house! Now we can rebuild the castle and mend the broken thatch on the cottages, and I can go to Eton and Oxford, and you can have a diamond tiara, and Elfrida can have a pony to ride, and so can I.”
Elfrida’s thoughts were not unlike his—so Aunt Edith won the game of Proverbs.
“You have been very good children, Mrs. Honeysett tells me,” said Aunt Edith, putting the cards together.
“Not so extra,” said Edred; “I mean it’s easy to be good when everything’s so jolly.”