When I came upstairs from the furnace Helen met me as if nothing had
happened. By one of her sudden revulsions of mood she was even more
gracious than usual, and was at dinner altogether charming. She did not
refer to our quarrel or to the puzzle.
The next morning over our breakfast we were both opening our mail. I
had told her that I should not go to the office until after Christmas
and that I wanted her to arrange for a little tour that would please
her. I had phoned to the office not to expect me until after New Year’s.
My mail contained nothing of moment.
Helen looked up from hers with an expression curiously mingled of
disappointment, concern and a pleased smile.
“It is so fortunate you have nothing to do,” she said. “I spent four
whole days choosing toys and favors and found most of those I selected
at Bleich’s. They were to have been delivered day before yesterday but
they did not come. I telephoned yesterday and they said they would try
to trace them. Here is a letter saying that the whole lot was missent
out to Roundwood. You noticed that Roundwood station burned Monday
night. They were all burnt up. Now I’ll have to go and find more like
them. You can go with me.”