"Are you Father Kwistmas?" repeated Elsie.
Robert felt at his chin, and thanked Heaven again that he had let
his beard grow. Almost mechanically he decided to wear the mask--in
short, to dissemble.
"Yes, my dear," he said. "I just looked in to know what you would
like me to bring you."
"You're late, aren't oo? Oughtn't oo to have come this morning?"
[EDITOR. THIS IS SPLENDID. THIS QUITE RECONCILES ME TO THE ABSENCE
OF THE ROBIN. BUT WHAT WAS ELSIE DOING DOWNSTAIRS?