[CHAPTER III.]
PREPARING FOR CHRISTMAS.
According to his promise Mr. Hodson arranged an afternoon on which to take the three boys into Ipswich.
They started early in the afternoon in high spirits. The sky was a clear blue with white billowy clouds sailing slowly across it, and the air was cold and crisp. The river which they passed on their way to the town had caught the colour of the sky, and one or two little white sailed boats were reflected on its waters, while in the distance a large ship with red sails was slowly making its way against wind and tide.
Geoffrey was the only one of the three boys whose thoughts were full of anything except the shops which they were nearing, and the presents they were about to buy. He could not but remember that the chief excitement in past years of buying Christmas presents was over, that the best present of all would not be wanted. How gladly would he have parted with all his little savings if only he could buy his Mother a present once again. He felt he would willingly give her all he possessed.
Afraid as he was of giving people trouble himself, he was quite aghast
at the way the boys insisted upon having the counter strewn with various articles.
He had noticed the thought of his Mother cross Forbes' mind that morning too. Just before they had started the latter had been counting out his money, and arranging how much he could spend on each person, when suddenly he came to a full stop, and looking up at Geoffrey in whose eyes the one word "Mother" seemed to Forbes to be so evidently written, he had flushed crimson, and had to bite his lips to prevent tears coming.
That Forbes was constantly thinking of his Mother, Geoffrey was sure, but it surprised him to find how seldom the thought of her seemed to cross Jack's mind. Nurse apparently filled her place to him completely, and Geoffrey recognised none of the "Mother hunger" in his little brother, from which he suffered so much himself.