They themselves said nothing--just stood and stared at him;
Daddy and Mother said the expected things, and Aunt Emily, critical
and explanatory as usual, found it necessary to add: "You'll find it
such a quiet house to work in, Felix, and the children will never
interfere or get in your way." She was evidently proud of her relative
and his famous books. "They'll be as good as gold--won't you, Judy?"
by which name she referred to the trio as a whole.
Whereupon Judy smiled and nodded shyly, Tim bent down and scratched
his stocking, and Maria, her face expressionless, merely stared at her
aunt as though she--Emily, that is--were a piece of inanimate
furniture.
"I see," said Uncle Felix carelessly, and glanced down at the trio.
That was all he said. But it was the way he said it that instantly
explained his position. He looked at them and said, "I see"; no more
than that--and it was done. They knew, he knew, Aunt Emily also knew.
Two little careless words--and then continued to talk of Paris, the
Channel crossing, and the weather.
"Didn't he squash her just!" remarked Tim, when they were alone
together. "She expected him to thank her awfully and give her a kiss.
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