"
And, accordingly, none of them were in the least surprised when he
suddenly poked his head inside the door as they lay in bed and
explained that he had just looked in to say good-night, and when he
left them a moment later added gravely from the door: "Mind, you never
disturb me, children; because, if you do--!" He shook a warning finger
and was gone. He looked enormous in the doorway.
From that moment Uncle Felix became an important factor in their
lives. The mysterious compact between them all was signed and sealed,
yet none could say who drew it up and worded it. His duties became
considerable. He almost took Daddy's place. The Study, indeed, at
certain hours of the evening, became their recognised nesting place,
and Daddy was as pleased as they themselves were. He seemed relieved.
He rarely ground out epics now when his brain was tired and full of
Government stationery and sealing-wax. Uncle Felix held the wizard's
wand, and what he did with it was this: he raised the sense of wonder
in them to a higher level. Daddy had awakened it, and fed it with
specimens they could understand. But Uncle Felix poked it into yet
greater activity by giving them something that no one could ever
possibly understand! He stimulated it so that it worked in them
spontaneously and of its own accord.
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