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.
[Illustration: 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.
Even Dodie seemed to remember her more than Jack, for often in her
sleep, when she stirred she would murmur "Mammie." It always gave Geoff
a strange sensation when he heard this, and he liked to fancy that in
some way or other, his Mother watched over his little sister and talked
to her in her dreams.
Geoffrey was the only one of the three boys who was silent, as he
walked by the side of Mr. Hodson to the town, his hands deep in his
pockets, but his silence was more than made up for by the lively
chatter of his two brothers.
The shops looked very tempting, decorated as they were for Christmas,
and the town was full of people. Claude Hodson found he had given
himself a task when he had promised to take his little friends
shopping. It was the first experience of shopping with children, and
before the afternoon was over, he fervently hoped it would be the last.
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 for them to look at, often without deciding to buy any
of them. It never struck them that they were giving trouble, or that
they were making their kind friend feel supremely uncomfortable. Jack
was the most undecided of the three as to what to buy. He would change
his mind a dozen times before he settled upon anything. Every fresh
thing he saw he wanted, and liked better than the last.
Forbes, on the other hand, was the most unprincipled in the matter of
giving trouble, and his remarks about the different articles covered
Claude Hodson with confusion more than once. "Why that isn't worth a
shilling," he would say, "it's nothing of a knife, only two blades!
I got a much better one last year for sixpence!" or "Haven't you any
better sticks than this? These are no good at all, I want a regular
wopper you know, one that I could knock a fellow down with if he
attacked us."
[Illustration: "I say, Forbes," said Jack, as they neared home, "I'll
show you your present, if you'll show me mine?"]
But if Jack was the most undecided, and Forbes the most inconsiderate
of people's feelings, Geoffrey was certainly the hardest to please,
as he made up his mind beforehand exactly what he wanted, and would
scarcely be satisfied with anything short of it. Among the many things
he wanted was a doll for Dodie, as like as possible to the one his
Mother gave her, which Jack had spoilt. This doll must, he explained,
have light hair and blue eyes, and its head must be turned a little
to the right. Mr. Hodson's spirits sank when he heard the minute
description Geoffrey gave of the doll, and knew that when he had once
set his heart on a thing, he would hunt till he found it, if he could.
"I promised Dodie I'd get her one as like the other as possible," he
explained to Mr. Hodson, who mildly hinted that he must be quick, as it
was getting late, "and of course, I mustn't break my promise. I'm sure
I've seen a doll very like it, somewhere. You don't mind me trying a
little longer do you?"
At last Claude had to remonstrate, and Geoff had to give up the idea
of finding a doll with a turned head,—he found one, however, with blue
eyes and golden hair, and hoped that Dodie would be satisfied with it.
He had anyhow kept his promise, and tried hard to find one like her
broken favourite.
So at last, with their pockets stuffed out and their arms full, they
turned homewards to Mr. Hodson's great relief, and soon they left
the lights of Ipswich behind them, and were plodding quickly towards
Hazelbury, through the dusk.
"I say Forbes," said Jack, as they neared home, "I'll show you your
present, if you'll show me mine."
Jack was tired, and they had both lagged behind the others.
"You may guess what it is, if you like," said Forbes, "but it would
spoil all the fun to show it to you beforehand. Ask me questions, and
I'll answer yes or no."
"Well then, is it heavy?"
"Light?"
"Rather, yes."
"Can I hold it in my hand?"
"Yes."
"Is it long and straight?"
"It's quite straight—particularly so—and rather long."
"I say Forbes—it isn't—no it can't be a walking stick, of course," said
Jack growing excited, and fervently hoping it was.
"No, but that's not a fair question, you must find out more about it."
"Is it a useful thing?"
"Decidedly."
"Not too useful I hope," said Jack, somewhat dejectedly.
"I don't know what you mean by too useful—nothing can be too useful."
"I mean it has nothing to do with lessons—a blotting book, or slate, or
anything of that sort."
"Well yes, it is something of that sort, but I know you haven't got
one, and really want one, I heard you ask Geoffrey for his only the
other day."
"It's a ruler!" said Jack blankly.
"Yes—but not only a ruler. Here, I'll let you feel it, old boy."
Jack felt it.
"It's one of those rulers with a pencil in it," he murmured, then he
added effusively lest Forbes should think him ungrateful, "thanks
awfully, it's jolly, it's awfully kind of you."
Forbes felt and saw his little brother was disappointed.
"I quite forgot you didn't care for useful things, I like them myself.
But," he added, anxious to raise Jack's spirits, and to make the best
of his present which he felt was a failure, and unappreciated, "this is
a particularly nice ruler—it has a first-rate pencil in it, and a view
of the Grammar School and Arboretum outside. That's why I got it, I
thought you'd be sure to like it."
[Illustration: "Forbes," said Mr. Hodson, laying a kind hand on the
boy's shoulder, "you remind me of a verse in Proverbs, 'He that ruleth
his spirit is greater than he that taketh a city.'"]
"Thanks awfully," was all that Jack could think of to say, then after a
moment's pause he asked, "What are you going to give Geoff?"
"I'm giving him a walking stick, a regular wopper. I got it while you
and he were looking after the doll. It has a knob at the end the size
of my fist. I've asked them to send it out to Hazelbury for me, as I
was afraid Geoff would see me carrying it."
"I say Forbes," said Jack colouring, and in a low voice, "you wouldn't,
I suppose, give Geoff the ruler and let me have the stick?"
"No, certainly not," said Forbes angrily. "You are an ungrateful
sneaking little scamp, get away with you."
Jack burst into tears at this, and ran past Mr. Hodson and Geoff, who
had overheard Forbes' words, as he had raised his voice in his anger.
Mr. Hodson turned round and looked at Forbes. The light of a lamp close
by shewed him the indignant light in the boy's eyes.
"He's gone to complain to nurse now I suppose," he said, angrily
looking after Jack's little figure, as he ran crying up the drive and
into the house.
"Forbes," said Mr. Hodson, laying a kind hand on the boy's shoulder,
"you remind me of a verse in Proverbs, 'He that ruleth his spirit is
greater than he that taketh a city.' You have the chance of being a
greater man then even Alexander—for though he conquered the world, he
could not conquer his own temper, and killed his best friend in a fit
of anger."
"Thank you Sir," said Forbes, "I'll remember."
[Illustration]