"But why all this
air of mystery?"
He was plainly bored by the fuss they were making. He was tired, and
he wanted his dinner.
But Jean, in an excited voice, was telling him to cut the string, and
Bronson was handing him a knife.
And then--the paper dropped and everybody was laughing, and Teddy was
screaming wildly and he was staring at the khaki-clad upper half of a
tall young soldier whose silver-blond hair was clipped close, and whose
hand went up in salute.
"It's Cousin Derry. It's Cousin Derry," Teddy was shouting, and
Margaret-Mary piped up, "It's Tousin Dee."
Derry stepped out from behind the table, where leaning forward and
wrapped up he had lent himself to the illusion, and put both hands on
the General's shoulders. "Glad to see me, Dad?"
"Glad; my dear boy--" It was almost too much for him.
Yet as supported by his son's arm, they went a moment later into the
dining room, he had a sense of renewed strength in the youth and vigor
of this youth who was bone of his bone, flesh of his flesh. If his own
feet could not march here were feet which would march for him.
There were flowers on the table, most extravagantly, for these war
times, orchids; and there were tall white candles in silver holders.
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