‘This is the real inside heart of the presentation,’ said Caroline. ‘Don’t look for a minute. We found them inside Pope’s Iliad and Thessalonians. And we are almost sure they are. And we hope you’ll be pleased.’
‘I can hardly believe that I could be more pleased than I am already,’ said the grateful uncle, and with that he lifted the white cloth (one of Caroline’s best handkerchiefs) and laid bare the books.
There was a breathless silence. The Uncle lifted the books and looked at them.
‘You know,’ he said presently in almost a broken voice, ‘I believe they are. I am almost sure they are.’ Then he said nothing for a minute and then, ‘Thank you,’ he said; ‘thank you,’ and opened the book again. ‘It’ll make all the difference,’ he said to Mr. Penfold; ‘absolutely all the difference.’
‘We found them,’ Charles was beginning, when Mr. Penfold made him a sign to be silent, and made another sign towards the door. Then he led the way from the room. The children followed, and when they were all out he closed the door softly.
‘When people are very happy or very unhappy, they like to be left alone. I think that just now your uncle is very happy.’
‘How glorious!’ said Caroline.
‘So am I,’ said Mr. Penfold. ‘An angel in human form, called Mr. James Hodgkinson, has sent me five pounds towards restoring the church. I have blued the lot on tiles for the roof of the porch. If you like to come down you can help put them on. Like to?’
‘Rather!’ was the enthusiastic answer of the three C.’s.
Rupert did not answer. And when they looked round to see why he did not answer, they saw that it was because he was not there.