The General was tired. "I had planned not to come down again--"
Bronson, knowing his master's moods, was on tip-toe with anxiety. "I've your things all laid out, sir."
Teddy, somewhat out of breath as they reached the top landing was inspired to remark, "We'll be 'spointed if you don't come down--"
The General chuckled. "Well, that's reason enough--. You can count on me, Ted, for masculine support."
The table was laid for six. Teddy appearing presently in the dining room pointed out the fact to Bronson, who was taking a last look.
"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."
"Yes. A parcel--it came this afternoon. We want you to untie the string."
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. "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?"