"I told Bronson not to tell him."
"Oh, really, Derry? Let's make it a great surprise."
Providentially the General was late. He and the children came home to find the house quite remarkably illumined, and Margaret flushed and excited, and in white.
"Is it a party, Mother?" Teddy asked, lending his shoulder manfully to the General's hand, as, with the chauffeur on the other side, they helped the old man up the stairs.
"No, but on such a rainy night Bronson and I thought we'd have a little feast. Don't you think that would be fun?"
The General was tired. "I had planned not to come down again—"
"Please do," she begged,
Bronson, knowing his master's moods, was on tip-toe with anxiety. "I've your things all laid out, sir."
"Well, well, I'll see."
Teddy, somewhat out of breath as they reached the top landing was inspired to remark, "We'll be 'spointed if you don't come down—"