"
"Those aren't her spoons and forks."
"Well, well," said Bronson, "so they aren't"; but he did not have them
changed.
The General in his dinner coat, perfectly groomed, immaculate, found
Jean in rose and silver waiting for him.
"How gay we are," he said, and pinched her cheek.
Teddy in white linen and patent leathers also approved. "You've got on
your spangly dwess, and it makes you pwetty--"
"Oh, Ted, is it just my clothes that make me pretty?"
"I didn't mean that. Only tonight you're so nice and--shining."
She shone, indeed, with such effulgence, that it was a wonder that the
General did not suspect. But he did not, even when she said, "We have
a surprise for you."
"For me, my dear?"
"Yes. A parcel--it came this afternoon. We want you to untie the
string."
"Where is it?" Teddy demanded.
"On the table in the blue room."
Teddy rushed in ahead of the rest, came back and reported, "It's a big
one."
It was a big one, cone-shaped and tied up in brown paper. It was set
on a heavy carved table, a length of tapestry was under it and hid the
legs of the table.
"It looks like a small tree," the General remarked.
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