Colonel Sturt nearly dropped the cigar-case in his consternation; Sir Everard turned hastily round; and Humphrey, snatching it up, rushed out of the room.
"What is the matter?" asked Sir Everard.
"It was the birthday present!" said little Miles, in an awe-struck whisper.
Sir Everard followed Humphrey to assure him he had not seen anything; which made matters rather worse, as he found him in the act of hiding it in Virginie's band-box, under her best Sunday bonnet. With some difficulty he reassured the boy, and brought him back.
"It was a near thing, though," observed Humphrey, with a sigh of relief.
Colonel Sturt was now almost afraid to remark on anything else; but a shilling concealed in a tooth-glass attracted his attention.
"Oh, that's my money," explained Humphrey, "that I am saving to buy old Dyson an ear-trumpet with. It was the only safe place I could find to keep it in."
"How much will it cost?" asked the Colonel.
"Seventeen shillings, I believe."
"And how much have you got?"