And Peter didn't answer. Let father have his joke; they both understood.
Father went singing joyfully up the stairs. The children listened till they heard the attic door close, then all was silent.
Suzanna found a book, and at Maizie's earnest request read a chapter from it aloud, while Peter descended into the cellar on business of his own.
"I'd rather you'd tell me a story of your own, Suzanna," said Maizie, when the chapter was concluded.
"Well, I can't make up stories today," said Suzanna. "Today is father's day, and I'm thinking every minute of The Machine."
"It's going to be a great thing, isn't it, Suzanna?" said Maizie, in an awed voice.
"Yes, and nobody in the world could have made it but our father," said Suzanna solemnly. "Father was made to do that work, and the whole world will be better because of his invention."
"The whole outside world?" asked Maizie, "or just Anchorville?"
"Oh, the whole world," said Suzanna, and then as Peter once more made his appearance: "Peter, take your tie out of your mouth. Father may call us upstairs at any moment, and you must look as nice as nice can be."
Peter obediently removed his tie from between his teeth, and just then the awaited summons came.