"It isn't puppies," she said. "It's something you wanted very much. But I'm terribly afraid you're not going to be happy about it."
"It sounds exciting," admitted Grant, wondering what the child had imagined he wanted. He hoped she hadn't brought him something. Hero worship was all very well, but it was embarrassing to be given something in full view of the multitude. "Where is it?"
"It's in a parcel up in my room. I thought I'd wait till you had finished your port."
"Is it something you can bring into a dining room?" her father asked.
"Oh, yes."
"Then Burt will fetch it."
"Oh, no!" she cried, arresting her father's hand on the bell. "I'll get it. I shan't be a minute."
She came back carrying a large brown paper parcel, which her father said looked like a Salvation Army gift day. She unwrapped it and produced a man's coat, of a grayish black.
"That is the coat you wanted," she said. "But it has all its buttons."
Grant took the coat automatically, and examined it.