"Mr. Fits is revenged all right, then," admitted Dick, with a bitter smile. "Oh, I only hope that I get a fair chance to pay him back one of these near days! But, at any rate, my Christmas isn't going to be spoiled. You have already agreed to my going away on the camping trip to-morrow, and that is going to be more fun for me than two Christmases."
"I'm glad you're looking forward so to enjoying your vacation in the forest," smiled Mrs. Prescott. "It does seem fortunate that you have such a treat at hand to repay you for your disappointment."
Suddenly Dick looked blank for an instant. Laying down his knife he employed his right hand in making a frantic thrust into one of his trousers' pockets. Then he fished up a banknote.
"Thank goodness that is all right," he gasped. "Mr. Fits didn't think to look for that. It's my five dollars left out of Mrs. Dexter's present, and is the money that I'm going to pay my share of the camp expenses with. But, on second thought, I believe I'll drop out of that camping scheme."
"Why?" asked Mr. Prescott, in a rather sharp, queer voice.
"Because this five dollars will fool Mr. Fits in another way. I can go to-morrow and get mother another fan like the first one."
Mr. Prescott's eyes flashed proudly for a moment as he answered, a bit huskily.
"You could do that, of course, young man, but your mother would never forgive you for cheating yourself out of the one pleasure you want most."
"Sometimes," spoke Dick gravely, "there's more fun in doing without a pleasure, when you can find another that is worth more to you."
The tears stood in Mrs. Prescott's eyes. She rose and dropped both arms around her boy.