“Well, I haven’t,” Nancy said, “but I intend to from now on. Do you think Collier—father—would like to have a new pipe?”
“I don’t know,” Shelia said; “wouldn’t Uncle Dick like to have one?”
“I don’t know whether Uncle Dick is going to want a Christmas present from me or not, Sheila.” Nancy answered seriously. “There may be—reasons why he won’t come to see us for a while when he knows them.”
“Oh, dear,” Sheila said, “but I can buy him a Christmas present myself, can’t I? I don’t want it to be Christmas if I can’t.”
“Of course, dear. What shall we buy Aunt Caroline and Uncle Billy?”
“Some pink and blue housekeeping dishes, I think.”
“I’m going to have trouble buying Caroline anything,” Nancy said. “She’s so sure I can’t afford it. If I give a silver chest I’ll have to make Billy say it came from his maiden aunt.”
“What shall we give Aunt Betty?”
“I don’t know exactly why,” Nancy said, “but someway I feel more like giving her a good shaking than anything else.”