"He plays golf," said the boy, "but he's chiefly fond of fishing. He's always going off to fish at a place called Stockbridge."
"What is his favourite food?" Ben asked.
After a good deal of difference of opinion and some heat, it was decided that their father was most addicted to eggs, of which he ate two every morning boiled for four minutes.
"And do you want to join in these presents?" Ben asked, "and give each of them one that costs five shillings, or do you want to be independent?"
This led to more debate and more heat, and it was at last settled that they would rather not unite but would deal separately with their parents.
"Very well," said Ben, "this is what I suggest. That one of you should give your father a little old book on fishing which we will get downstairs, and the other should give him two very pretty china egg-cups. And one should give your mother a box of purple sealing-wax for her letters (which is a good kind of present because very likely she'll let you help with the sealing), and the other should give her a little bottle of the best lavender water. And I'm very glad you called to ask me. Where do you live?"
"Close by, in Eaton Square," said the boy. "We pass here every day and we've always wanted to come in, but we've never had a real domestic problem before."
"And what do you collect?" Ben asked. "Because every boy collects something, doesn't he?"
"Motor-cars," said Eric.
"Motor-cars!" Ben exclaimed.