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ladder from under the cherry tree … 〃
〃I was told I wasn't to go into the gooseberry
garden；〃 said Nicholas promptly。
〃I told you not to； and now I tell you that you
may；〃 came the voice from the rain…water tank； rather
impatiently。
〃Your voice doesn't sound like aunt's；〃 objected
Nicholas； 〃you may be the Evil One tempting me to be
disobedient。 Aunt often tells me that the Evil One
tempts me and that I always yield。 This time I'm not
going to yield。〃
〃Don't talk nonsense；〃 said the prisoner in the
tank； 〃go and fetch the ladder。〃
〃Will there be strawberry jam for tea？〃 asked
Nicholas innocently。
〃Certainly there will be；〃 said the aunt； privately
resolving that Nicholas should have none of it。
〃Now I know that you are the Evil One and not aunt；〃
shouted Nicholas gleefully； 〃when we asked aunt for
strawberry jam yesterday she said there wasn't any。 I
know there are four jars of it in the store cupboard；
because I looked； and of course you know it's there； but
she doesn't； because she said there wasn't any。 Oh；
Devil； you HAVE sold yourself！〃
There was an unusual sense of luxury in being able
to talk to an aunt as though one was talking to the Evil
One； but Nicholas knew； with childish discernment； that
such luxuries were not to be over…indulged in。 He walked
noisily away； and it was a kitchenmaid； in search of
parsley； who eventually rescued the aunt from the rain…
water tank。
Tea that evening was partaken of in a fearsome
silence。 The tide had been at its highest when the
children had arrived at Jagborough Cove； so there had
been no sands to play on … a circumstance that the aunt
had overlooked in the haste of organising her punitive
expedition。 The tightness of Bobby's boots had had
disastrous effect on his temper the whole of the
afternoon； and altogether the children could not have
been said to have enjoyed themselves。 The aunt
maintained the frozen muteness of one who has suffered
undignified and unmerited detention in a rain…water tank
for thirty…five minutes。 As for Nicholas； he； too； was
silent； in the absorption of one who has much to think
about； it was just possible； he considered； that the
huntsman would escape with his hounds while the wolves
feasted on the stricken stag。
FUR
〃YOU look worried； dear；〃 said Eleanor。
〃I am worried；〃 admitted Suzanne； 〃not worried
exactly； but anxious。 You see； my birthday happens next
week … 〃
〃You lucky person；〃 interrupted Eleanor； 〃my
birthday doesn't come till the end of March。〃
〃Well； old Bertram Kneyght is over in England just
now from the Argentine。 He's a kind of distant cousin of
my mother's； and so enormously rich that we've never let
the relationship drop out of sight。 Even if we don't see
him or hear from him for years he is always Cousin
Bertram when he does turn up。 I can't say he's ever been
of much solid use to us； but yesterday the subject of my
birthday cropped up； and he asked me to let him know what
I wanted for a present。〃
〃Now I understand the anxiety；〃 observed Eleanor。
〃As a rule when one is confronted with a problem
like that；〃 said Suzanne； 〃all one's ideas vanish； one
doesn't seem to have a desire in the world。 Now it so
happens that I have been very keen on a little Dresden
figure that I saw somewhere in Kensington； about thirty…
six shillings； quite beyond my means。 I was very nearly
describing the figure； and giving Bertram the address of
the shop。 And then it suddenly struck me that thirty…six
shillings was such a ridiculously inadequate sum for a
man of his immense wealth to spend on a birthday present。
He could give thirty…six pounds as easily as you or I
could buy a bunch of violets。 I don't want to be greedy；
of course； but I don't like being wasteful。〃
〃The question is；〃 said Eleanor； 〃what are his ideas
as to present…giving？ Some of the wealthiest people have
curiously cramped views on that subject。 When people
grow gradually rich their requirements and standard of
living expand in proportion； while their present…giving
instincts often remain in the undeveloped condition of
their earlier days。 Something showy and not…too…
expensive in a shop is their only conception of the ideal
gift。 That is why even quite good shops have their
counters and windows crowded with things worth about four
shillings that look as if they might be worth seven…and…
six； and are priced at ten shillings and labelled
seasonable gifts。' 〃
〃I know；〃 said Suzanne； 〃that is why it is so risky
to be vague when one is giving indications of one's
wants。 Now if I say to him： 'I am going out to Davos
this winter； so anything in the travelling line would be
acceptable；' he might give me a dressing…bag with gold…
mounted fittings； but； on the other hand； he might give
me Baedeker's Switzerland； or ‘Skiing without Tears；' or
something of that sort。〃
〃He would be more likely to say： 'She'll be going to
lots of dances； a fan will be sure to be useful。' 〃
〃Yes； and I've got tons of fans； so you see where
the danger and anxiety lies。 Now if there is one thing
more than another that I really urgently want it is furs。
I simply haven't any。 I'm told that Davos is full of
Russians； and they are sure to wear the most lovely
sables and things。 To be among people who are smothered
in furs when one hasn't any oneself makes one want to
break most of the Commandments。〃
〃If it's furs that you're out for；〃 said Eleanor；
〃you will have to superintend the choice of them in
person。 You can't be sure that your cousin knows the
difference between silver…fox and ordinary squirrel。〃
〃There are some heavenly silver…fox stoles at
Goliath and Mastodon's；〃 said Suzanne； with a sigh； 〃if I
could only inveigle Bertram into their building and take
him for a stroll through the fur department！〃
〃He lives somewhere near there； doesn't he？〃 said
Eleanor。 〃Do you know what his habits are？ Does he take
a walk at any particular time of day？〃
〃He usually walks down to his club about three
o'clock； if it's a fine day。 That takes him right past
Goliath and Mastodon's。〃
〃Let us two meet him accidentally at the street
corner to…morrow；〃 said Eleanor； 〃we can walk a little
way with him； and with luck we ought to be able to side…
track him into the shop。 You can say you want to get a
hair…net or something。 When we're safely there I can
say： 'I wish you'd tell me what you want for your
birthday。' Then you'll have everything ready to hand …
the rich cousin； the fur department； and the topic of
birthday presents。〃
〃It's a great idea；〃 said Suzanne； 〃you really are a
brick。 Come round to…morrow at twenty to three； don't be
late； we must carry out our ambush to the minute。〃
At a few minutes to