And,' he added, in a lower tone, and with the curious little thrill of
pathos in his voice, 'this is the day the Saviour came to the world.'
He paused, and then with a little sad smile, 'But I don't want to abuse
you.'
'Do, I enjoy it, I'm a beast, a selfish beast'; for somehow his intense,
blazing earnestness made me feel uncomfortably small.
'What have we to offer?' I demanded.
'Wait till I have got these things cleared away, and my housekeeping
done.'
I pressed my services upon him, somewhat feebly, I own, for I can't bear
dishwater; but he rejected my offer.
'I don't like trusting my china to the hands of a tender-foot.'
'Quite right, though your china would prove an excellent means of
defence at long range.' It was delf, a quarter of an inch thick. So I
smoked while he washed up, swept, dusted, and arranged the room.
After the room was ordered to his taste, we proceeded to hold council.
He could offer dinner, magic lantern, music. 'We can fill in time for
two hours, but,' he added gloomily, 'we can't beat the dance and the
"High Kickers.
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