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weather¡¡were¡¡not¡¡fine¡£

In¡¡addition¡¡to¡¡the¡¡articles¡¡already¡¡mentioned£»¡¡they¡¡had¡¡to¡¡spend¡¡fourpence¡¡for¡¡half¡¡a¡¡gallon¡¡of¡¡paraffin¡¡oil£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡put¡¡sixpence¡¡into¡¡the¡¡slot¡¡of¡¡the¡¡gas¡­stove¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡reduced¡¡the¡¡money¡¡to¡¡five¡¡and¡¡sevenpence¡¡farthing£»¡¡and¡¡of¡¡this¡¡it¡¡was¡¡necessary¡¡to¡¡spend¡¡a¡¡shilling¡¡on¡¡potatoes¡¡and¡¡other¡¡vegetables¡£

They¡¡both¡¡needed¡¡some¡¡new¡¡underclothing£»¡¡for¡¡what¡¡they¡¡had¡¡was¡¡so¡¡old¡¡and¡¡worn¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡quite¡¡useless¡¡for¡¡the¡¡purpose¡¡it¡¡was¡¡supposed¡¡to¡¡serve£»¡¡but¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no¡¡use¡¡thinking¡¡of¡¡these¡¡things£»¡¡for¡¡they¡¡had¡¡now¡¡only¡¡four¡¡shillings¡¡and¡¡sevenpence¡¡farthing¡¡left£»¡¡and¡¡all¡¡that¡¡would¡¡be¡¡needed¡¡for¡¡toys¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡had¡¡to¡¡buy¡¡something¡¡special¡¡for¡¡Frankie¡¡for¡¡Christmas£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡would¡¡also¡¡be¡¡necessary¡¡to¡¡buy¡¡something¡¡for¡¡each¡¡of¡¡the¡¡children¡¡who¡¡were¡¡coming¡¡to¡¡the¡¡party¡¡on¡¡the¡¡following¡¡Monday¡£¡¡Fortunately£»¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no¡¡meat¡¡to¡¡buy£»¡¡for¡¡Nora¡¡had¡¡been¡¡paying¡¡into¡¡the¡¡Christmas¡¡Club¡¡at¡¡the¡¡butcher's¡¡as¡¡well¡¡as¡¡at¡¡the¡¡grocer's¡£¡¡¡¡So¡¡this¡¡necessary¡¡was¡¡already¡¡paid¡¡for¡£

They¡¡stopped¡¡to¡¡look¡¡at¡¡the¡¡display¡¡of¡¡toys¡¡at¡¡Sweater's¡¡Emporium¡£¡¡For¡¡several¡¡days¡¡past¡¡Frankie¡¡had¡¡been¡¡talking¡¡of¡¡the¡¡wonders¡¡contained¡¡in¡¡these¡¡windows£»¡¡so¡¡they¡¡wished¡¡if¡¡possible¡¡to¡¡buy¡¡him¡¡something¡¡here¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡recognized¡¡many¡¡of¡¡the¡¡things¡¡from¡¡the¡¡description¡¡the¡¡boy¡¡had¡¡given¡¡of¡¡them£»¡¡but¡¡nearly¡¡everything¡¡was¡¡so¡¡dear¡¡that¡¡for¡¡a¡¡long¡¡time¡¡they¡¡looked¡¡in¡¡vain¡¡for¡¡something¡¡it¡¡would¡¡be¡¡possible¡¡to¡¡buy¡£

¡®That's¡¡the¡¡engine¡¡he¡¡talks¡¡so¡¡much¡¡about£»'¡¡said¡¡Non£»¡¡indicating¡¡a¡¡model¡¡railway¡¡locomotive£»¡¡that¡¡one¡¡marked¡¡five¡¡shillings¡£'

¡®It¡¡might¡¡just¡¡as¡¡well¡¡be¡¡marked¡¡five¡¡pounds¡¡as¡¡far¡¡as¡¡we're¡¡concerned£»'¡¡replied¡¡Owen¡£

As¡¡they¡¡were¡¡speaking£»¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡salesmen¡¡appeared¡¡at¡¡the¡¡back¡¡of¡¡the¡¡window¡¡and£»¡¡reaching¡¡forward£»¡¡removed¡¡the¡¡engine¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡probably¡¡the¡¡last¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡kind¡¡and¡¡had¡¡evidently¡¡just¡¡been¡¡sold¡£¡¡¡¡Owen¡¡and¡¡Nora¡¡experienced¡¡a¡¡certain¡¡amount¡¡of¡¡consolation¡¡in¡¡knowing¡¡that¡¡even¡¡if¡¡they¡¡had¡¡the¡¡money¡¡they¡¡would¡¡not¡¡have¡¡been¡¡able¡¡to¡¡buy¡¡it¡£

After¡¡lengthy¡¡consideration£»¡¡they¡¡decided¡¡on¡¡a¡¡clockwork¡¡engine¡¡at¡¡a¡¡shilling£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡other¡¡toys¡¡they¡¡resolved¡¡to¡¡buy¡¡at¡¡a¡¡cheaper¡¡shop¡£¡¡Nora¡¡went¡¡into¡¡the¡¡Emporium¡¡to¡¡get¡¡the¡¡toy¡¡and¡¡whilst¡¡Owen¡¡was¡¡waiting¡¡for¡¡her¡¡Mr¡¡and¡¡Mrs¡¡Rushton¡¡came¡¡out¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡did¡¡not¡¡appear¡¡to¡¡see¡¡Owen£»¡¡who¡¡observed¡¡that¡¡the¡¡shape¡¡of¡¡one¡¡of¡¡several¡¡parcels¡¡they¡¡carried¡¡suggested¡¡that¡¡it¡¡contained¡¡the¡¡engine¡¡that¡¡had¡¡been¡¡taken¡¡from¡¡the¡¡window¡¡a¡¡little¡¡while¡¡before¡£

When¡¡Nora¡¡returned¡¡with¡¡her¡¡purchase£»¡¡they¡¡went¡¡in¡¡search¡¡of¡¡a¡¡cheaper¡¡place¡¡and¡¡after¡¡a¡¡time¡¡they¡¡found¡¡what¡¡they¡¡wanted¡£¡¡¡¡For¡¡sixpence¡¡they¡¡bought¡¡a¡¡cardboard¡¡box¡¡that¡¡had¡¡come¡¡all¡¡the¡¡way¡¡from¡¡Japan¡¡and¡¡contained¡¡a¡¡whole¡¡family¡¡of¡¡dolls¡¡¡­¡¡father£»¡¡mother¡¡and¡¡four¡¡children¡¡of¡¡different¡¡sizes¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡box¡¡of¡¡paints£»¡¡threepence£º¡¡a¡¡sixpenny¡¡tea¡¡service£»¡¡a¡¡threepenny¡¡drawing¡¡slate£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡rag¡¡doll£»¡¡sixpence¡£

On¡¡their¡¡way¡¡home¡¡they¡¡called¡¡at¡¡a¡¡greengrocer's¡¡where¡¡Owen¡¡had¡¡ordered¡¡and¡¡paid¡¡for¡¡a¡¡small¡¡Christmas¡¡tree¡¡a¡¡few¡¡weeks¡¡before£»¡¡and¡¡as¡¡they¡¡were¡¡turning¡¡the¡¡corner¡¡of¡¡the¡¡street¡¡where¡¡they¡¡lived¡¡they¡¡met¡¡Crass£»¡¡half¡­drunk£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡fine¡¡fat¡¡goose¡¡slung¡¡over¡¡his¡¡shoulder¡¡by¡¡its¡¡neck¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡greeted¡¡Owen¡¡jovially¡¡and¡¡held¡¡up¡¡the¡¡bird¡¡for¡¡their¡¡inspection¡£

¡®Not¡¡a¡¡bad¡¡tanner's¡­worth£»¡¡eh£¿'¡¡he¡¡hiccoughed¡£¡¡¡¡¡®This¡¡makes¡¡two¡¡we've¡¡got¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡won¡¡this¡¡and¡¡a¡¡box¡¡of¡¡cigars¡¡¡­¡¡fifty¡¡¡­¡¡for¡¡a¡¡tanner£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡other¡¡one¡¡I¡¡got¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Club¡¡at¡¡our¡¡Church¡¡Mission¡¡'all£º¡¡threepence¡¡a¡¡week¡¡for¡¡twenty¡­eight¡¡weeks£»¡¡that¡¡makes¡¡seven¡¡bob¡£¡¡¡¡But£»'¡¡he¡¡added£»¡¡confidentially£»¡®'you¡¡couldn't¡¡buy¡¡'em¡¡for¡¡that¡¡price¡¡in¡¡a¡¡shop£»¡¡you¡¡know¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡costs¡¡the¡¡committee¡¡a¡¡good¡¡bit¡¡more¡¡nor¡¡that¡¡¡­¡¡wholesale£»¡¡but¡¡we've¡¡got¡¡some¡¡rich¡¡gents¡¡on¡¡our¡¡committee¡¡and¡¡they¡¡makes¡¡up¡¡the¡¡difference£»'¡¡and¡¡with¡¡a¡¡nod¡¡and¡¡a¡¡cunning¡¡leer¡¡he¡¡lurched¡¡off¡£

Frankie¡¡was¡¡sleeping¡¡soundly¡¡when¡¡they¡¡reached¡¡home£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡was¡¡the¡¡kitten£»¡¡which¡¡was¡¡curled¡¡up¡¡on¡¡the¡¡quilt¡¡on¡¡the¡¡foot¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bed¡£¡¡After¡¡they¡¡had¡¡had¡¡some¡¡supper£»¡¡although¡¡it¡¡was¡¡after¡¡eleven¡¡o'clock£»¡¡Owen¡¡fixed¡¡the¡¡tree¡¡in¡¡a¡¡large¡¡flower¡­pot¡¡that¡¡had¡¡served¡¡a¡¡similar¡¡purpose¡¡before£»¡¡and¡¡Nora¡¡brought¡¡out¡¡from¡¡the¡¡place¡¡where¡¡it¡¡had¡¡been¡¡stored¡¡away¡¡since¡¡last¡¡Christmas¡¡a¡¡cardboard¡¡box¡¡containing¡¡a¡¡lot¡¡of¡¡glittering¡¡tinsel¡¡ornaments¡¡¡­¡¡globes¡¡of¡¡silvered¡¡or¡¡gilded¡¡or¡¡painted¡¡glass£»¡¡birds£»¡¡butterflies¡¡and¡¡stars¡£¡¡¡¡Some¡¡of¡¡these¡¡things¡¡had¡¡done¡¡duty¡¡three¡¡Christmases¡¡ago¡¡and¡¡although¡¡they¡¡were¡¡in¡¡some¡¡instances¡¡slightly¡¡tarnished¡¡most¡¡of¡¡them¡¡were¡¡as¡¡good¡¡as¡¡new¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡addition¡¡to¡¡these¡¡and¡¡the¡¡toys¡¡they¡¡had¡¡bought¡¡that¡¡evening¡¡they¡¡had¡¡a¡¡box¡¡of¡¡bon¡­bons¡¡and¡¡a¡¡box¡¡of¡¡small¡¡coloured¡¡wax¡¡candles£»¡¡both¡¡of¡¡which¡¡had¡¡formed¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡things¡¡they¡¡got¡¡from¡¡the¡¡grocer's¡¡with¡¡the¡¡Christmas¡¡Club¡¡money£»¡¡and¡¡there¡¡were¡¡also¡¡a¡¡lot¡¡of¡¡little¡¡coloured¡¡paper¡¡bags¡¡of¡¡sweets£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡number¡¡of¡¡sugar¡¡and¡¡chocolate¡¡toys¡¡and¡¡animals¡¡which¡¡had¡¡been¡¡bought¡¡two¡¡or¡¡three¡¡at¡¡a¡¡time¡¡for¡¡several¡¡weeks¡¡past¡¡and¡¡put¡¡away¡¡for¡¡this¡¡occasion¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡was¡¡something¡¡suitable¡¡for¡¡each¡¡child¡¡that¡¡was¡¡coming£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡exception¡¡of¡¡Bert¡¡White£»¡¡they¡¡had¡¡intended¡¡to¡¡include¡¡a¡¡sixpenny¡¡pocket¡¡knife¡¡for¡¡him¡¡in¡¡their¡¡purchases¡¡that¡¡evening£»¡¡but¡¡as¡¡they¡¡had¡¡not¡¡been¡¡able¡¡to¡¡afford¡¡this¡¡Owen¡¡decided¡¡to¡¡give¡¡him¡¡an¡¡old¡¡set¡¡of¡¡steel¡¡paining¡¡combs¡¡which¡¡he¡¡knew¡¡the¡¡lad¡¡had¡¡often¡¡longed¡¡to¡¡possess¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡tin¡¡case¡¡containing¡¡these¡¡tools¡¡was¡¡accordingly¡¡wrapped¡¡in¡¡some¡¡red¡¡tissue¡¡paper¡¡and¡¡hung¡¡on¡¡the¡¡tree¡¡with¡¡the¡¡other¡¡things¡£

They¡¡moved¡¡about¡¡as¡¡quietly¡¡as¡¡possible¡¡so¡¡as¡¡not¡¡to¡¡disturb¡¡those¡¡who¡¡were¡¡sleeping¡¡in¡¡the¡¡rooms¡¡beneath£»¡¡because¡¡long¡¡before¡¡they¡¡were¡¡finished¡¡the¡¡people¡¡in¡¡the¡¡other¡¡parts¡¡of¡¡the¡¡house¡¡had¡¡all¡¡retired¡¡to¡¡rest£»¡¡and¡¡silence¡¡had¡¡fallen¡¡on¡¡the¡¡deserted¡¡streets¡¡outside¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡they¡¡were¡¡putting¡¡the¡¡final¡¡touches¡¡to¡¡their¡¡work¡¡the¡¡profound¡¡stillness¡¡of¡¡the¡¡night¡¡was¡¡suddenly¡¡broken¡¡by¡¡the¡¡voices¡¡of¡¡a¡¡band¡¡of¡¡carol¡­¡¡singers¡£

The¡¡sound¡¡overwhelmed¡¡them¡¡with¡¡memories¡¡of¡¡other¡¡and¡¡happier¡¡times£»¡¡and¡¡Nora¡¡stretched¡¡out¡¡her¡¡hands¡¡impulsively¡¡to¡¡Owen£»¡¡who¡¡drew¡¡her¡¡close¡¡to¡¡his¡¡side¡£

They¡¡had¡¡been¡¡married¡¡just¡¡over¡¡eight¡¡years£»¡¡and¡¡although¡¡during¡¡all¡¡that¡¡time¡¡they¡¡had¡¡never¡¡been¡¡really¡¡free¡¡from¡¡anxiety¡¡for¡¡the¡¡future£»¡¡yet¡¡on¡¡no¡¡previous¡¡Christmas¡¡had¡¡they¡¡been¡¡quite¡¡so¡¡poor¡¡as¡¡now¡£¡¡During¡¡the¡¡last¡¡few¡¡years¡¡periods¡¡of¡¡unemployment¡¡had¡¡gradually¡¡become¡¡more¡¡frequent¡¡and¡¡protracted£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡attempt¡¡he¡¡had¡¡made¡¡in¡¡the¡¡early¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡year¡¡to¡¡get¡¡work¡¡elsewhere¡¡had¡¡only¡¡resulted¡¡in¡¡plunging¡¡them¡¡into¡¡even¡¡greater¡¡poverty¡¡than¡¡before¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡all¡¡the¡¡same¡¡there¡¡was¡¡much¡¡to¡¡be¡¡thankful¡¡for£º¡¡poor¡¡though¡¡they¡¡were£»¡¡they¡¡were¡¡far¡¡better¡¡off¡¡than¡¡many¡¡thousands¡¡of¡¡others£º¡¡they¡¡still¡¡had¡¡food¡¡and¡¡shelter£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡had¡¡each¡¡other¡¡and¡¡the¡¡boy¡£

Before¡¡they¡¡went¡¡to¡¡bed¡¡Owen¡¡carried¡¡the¡¡tree¡¡into¡¡Frankie's¡¡bedroom¡¡and¡¡placed¡¡it¡¡so¡¡that¡¡he¡¡would¡¡be¡¡able¡¡to¡¡see¡¡it¡¡in¡¡all¡¡its¡¡glittering¡¡glory¡¡as¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡he¡¡awoke¡¡on¡¡Christmas¡¡morning¡£



Chapter¡¡29

The¡¡Pandorama


Although¡¡the¡¡party¡¡was¡¡not¡¡supposed¡¡to¡¡begin¡¡till¡¡six¡¡o'clock£»¡¡Bert¡¡turned¡¡up¡¡at¡¡half¡¡past¡¡four£»¡¡bringing¡¡the¡¡¡®Pandoramer'¡¡with¡¡him¡£

At¡¡about¡¡half¡¡past¡¡five¡¡the¡¡other¡¡guests¡¡began¡¡to¡¡arrive¡£¡¡¡¡Elsie¡¡and¡¡Charley¡¡Linden¡¡came¡¡first£»¡¡the¡¡girl¡¡in¡¡a¡¡pretty¡¡blue¡¡frock¡¡trimmed¡¡with¡¡white¡¡lace£»¡¡and¡¡Charley¡¡resplendent¡¡in¡¡a¡¡new¡¡suit£»¡¡which£»¡¡like¡¡his¡¡sister's¡¡dress£»¡¡had¡¡been¡¡made¡¡out¡¡of¡¡somebody's¡¡cast¡­off¡¡clothes¡¡that¡¡had¡¡been¡¡given¡¡to¡¡their¡¡mother¡¡by¡¡a¡¡visiting¡¡lady¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡had¡¡taken¡¡Mrs¡¡Linden¡¡many¡¡hours¡¡of¡¡hard¡¡work¡¡to¡¡contrive¡¡these¡¡garments£»¡¡in¡¡fact£»¡¡more¡¡time¡¡than¡¡the¡¡things¡¡were¡¡worth£»¡¡for¡¡although¡¡they¡¡looked¡¡all¡¡right¡¡¡­¡¡especially¡¡Elsie's¡¡¡­¡¡the¡¡stuff¡¡was¡¡so¡¡old¡¡that¡¡it¡¡would¡¡not¡¡wear¡¡very¡¡long£º¡¡but¡¡this¡¡was¡¡the¡¡only¡¡way¡¡in¡¡which¡¡she¡¡could¡¡get¡¡clothes¡¡for¡¡the¡¡children¡¡at¡¡all£º¡¡she¡¡certainly¡¡could¡¡not¡¡afford¡¡to¡¡buy¡¡them¡¡any¡£¡¡¡¡So¡¡she¡¡spent¡¡hours¡¡and¡¡hours¡¡making¡¡things¡¡that¡¡she¡¡knew¡¡would¡¡fall¡¡to¡¡pieces¡¡almost¡¡as¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡they¡¡were¡¡made¡£

After¡¡these¡¡came¡¡Nellie£»¡¡Rosie¡¡and¡¡Tommy¡¡Newman¡£¡¡¡¡These¡¡presented¡¡a¡¡much¡¡less¡¡prosperous¡¡appearance¡¡than¡¡the¡¡other¡¡two¡£¡¡¡¡Their¡¡mother¡¡was¡¡not¡¡so¡¡skilful¡¡at¡¡contriving¡¡new¡¡clothes¡¡out¡¡of¡¡old¡£¡¡¡¡Nellie¡¡was¡¡wearing¡¡a¡¡grown¡­up¡¡woman's¡¡blouse£»¡¡and¡¡by¡¡way¡¡of¡¡ulster¡¡she¡¡had¡¡on¡¡an¡¡old¡­fashioned¡¡jacket¡¡of¡¡thick¡¡cloth¡¡with¡¡large¡¡pearl¡¡buttons¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡was¡¡also¡¡a¡¡grown¡­up¡¡woman's¡¡garment£º¡¡it¡¡was¡¡shaped¡¡to¡¡fit¡¡the¡¡figure¡¡of¡¡a¡¡tall¡¡woman¡¡with¡¡wide¡¡shoulders¡¡and¡¡a¡¡small¡¡waist£»¡¡consequently£»¡¡it¡¡did¡¡not¡¡fit¡¡Nellie¡¡to¡¡perfection¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡waist¡¡reached¡¡below¡¡the¡¡poor¡¡child's¡¡hips¡£

Tommy¡¡was¡¡arrayed¡¡in¡¡the¡¡patched¡¡remains¡¡of¡¡what¡¡had¡¡once¡¡been¡¡a¡¡good¡¡suit¡¡of¡¡clothes¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡had¡¡been¡¡purchased¡¡at¡¡a¡¡second¡­hand¡¡shop¡¡last¡¡summer¡¡and¡¡had¡¡been¡¡his¡¡¡®best'¡¡for¡¡several¡¡months£»¡¡but¡¡they¡¡were¡¡now¡¡much¡¡too¡¡small¡¡for¡¡him¡£

Little¡¡Rosie¡¡¡­¡¡who¡¡was¡¡only¡¡just¡¡over¡¡three¡¡years¡¡old¡¡¡­¡¡was¡¡better¡¡off¡¡than¡¡either¡¡of¡¡the¡¡other¡¡two£»¡¡for¡¡she¡¡had¡¡a¡¡red¡¡cloth¡¡dress¡¡that¡¡fitted¡¡her¡¡perfectly£º¡¡indeed£»¡¡as¡¡the¡¡district¡¡visitor¡¡who¡¡gave¡¡it¡¡to¡¡her¡¡mother¡¡had¡¡remarked£»¡¡it¡¡looked¡¡as¡¡if¡¡it¡¡had¡¡been¡¡made¡¡for¡¡her¡£

¡®It's¡¡not¡¡much¡¡to¡¡look¡¡at£»'¡¡observed¡¡Nellie£»¡¡referring¡¡to¡¡her¡¡big¡¡jacket£»¡¡but¡¡all¡¡the¡¡same¡¡we¡¡was¡¡very¡¡glad¡¡of¡¡it¡¡when¡¡the¡¡rain¡¡came¡¡on¡£'

The¡¡coat¡¡was¡¡so¡¡big¡¡that¡¡by¡¡withdrawing¡¡her¡¡arms¡¡from¡¡the¡¡sleeves¡¡and¡¡using¡¡it¡¡as¡¡a¡¡cloak¡¡or¡¡shawl¡¡she¡¡had¡¡managed¡¡to¡¡make¡¡it¡¡do¡¡for¡¡all¡¡three¡¡of¡¡them¡£

Tommy's¡¡boots¡¡were¡¡so¡¡broken¡¡that¡¡the¡¡wet¡¡had¡¡got¡¡in¡¡and¡¡saturated¡¡his¡¡stockings£»¡¡so¡¡Nora¡¡made¡¡him¡¡take¡¡them¡¡all¡¡off¡¡and¡¡wear¡¡some¡¡old¡¡ones¡¡of¡¡Frankie's¡¡whilst¡¡his¡¡own¡¡were¡¡drying¡¡at¡¡the¡¡fire¡£

Philpot£»¡¡with¡¡two¡¡large¡¡paper¡¡bags¡¡full¡¡of¡¡oranges¡¡and¡¡nuts£»¡¡arrived¡¡just¡¡as¡¡they¡¡were¡¡sitting¡¡down¡¡to¡¡tea¡¡¡­¡¡or¡¡rather¡¡cocoa¡¡¡­¡¡for¡¡with¡¡the¡¡exception¡¡of¡¡Bert¡¡all¡¡the¡¡children¡¡expressed¡¡a¡¡preference¡¡for¡¡the¡¡latter¡¡beverage¡£¡¡¡¡Bert¡¡would¡¡have¡¡liked¡¡to¡¡have¡¡cocoa¡¡also£»¡¡but¡¡hearing¡¡that¡¡the¡¡grown¡­ups¡¡were¡¡going¡¡to¡¡have¡¡tea£»¡¡he¡¡thought¡¡it¡¡would¡¡be¡¡more¡¡manly¡¡to¡¡do¡¡the¡¡same¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡question¡¡of¡¡having¡¡tea¡¡or¡¡cocoa¡¡for¡¡tea¡¡became¡¡a¡¡cause¡¡of¡¡much¡¡uproarious¡¡merriment¡¡on¡¡the¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡children£»¡¡who¡¡asked¡¡each¡¡other¡¡repeatedly¡¡which¡¡they¡¡liked¡¡best£»¡¡¡®tea¡¡tea£¿'¡¡or¡¡¡®cocoa¡¡tea£¿'¡¡¡¡They¡¡thought¡¡it¡¡so¡¡funny¡¡that¡¡they¡¡said¡¡it¡¡over¡¡and¡¡over¡¡again£»¡¡screaming¡¡with¡¡laughter¡¡all¡¡the¡¡while£»¡¡until¡¡Tommy¡¡got¡¡a¡¡piece¡¡of¡¡cake¡¡stuck¡¡in¡¡his¡¡throat¡¡and¡¡became¡¡nearly¡¡black¡¡in¡¡the¡¡face£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡Philpot¡¡had¡¡to¡¡turn¡¡him¡¡upside¡¡down¡¡and¡¡punch¡¡him¡¡in¡¡the¡¡back¡¡to¡¡save¡¡him¡¡from¡¡choking¡¡to¡¡death¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡rather¡¡sobered¡¡the¡¡others£»¡¡but¡¡for¡¡some¡¡time¡¡afterwards¡¡whenever¡¡they¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡each¡¡other¡¡they¡¡began¡¡to¡¡laugh¡¡afresh¡¡because¡¡they¡¡thought¡¡it¡¡was¡¡such¡¡a¡¡good¡¡joke¡£

When¡¡they¡¡had¡¡filled¡¡themselves¡¡up¡¡with¡¡the¡¡¡®cocoa¡­tea'¡¡and¡¡cakes¡¡and¡¡bread¡¡and¡¡jam£»¡¡Elsie¡¡Linden¡¡and¡¡Nellie¡¡Newman¡¡helped¡¡to¡¡clear¡¡away¡¡the¡¡cups¡¡and¡¡saucers£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡Owen¡¡lit¡¡the¡¡candles¡¡on¡¡the¡¡Christmas¡¡tree¡¡and¡¡distributed¡¡the¡¡toys¡¡to¡¡the¡¡children£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡little¡¡while¡¡afterwards¡¡Philpot¡¡¡­¡¡who¡¡had¡¡got¡¡a¡¡funny¡­looking¡¡mask¡¡out¡¡of¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bon¡­bons¡¡¡­¡¡started¡¡a¡¡fine¡¡game¡¡pretending¡¡to¡¡be¡¡a¡¡dreadful¡¡wild¡¡animal¡¡which¡¡he¡¡called¡¡a¡¡Pandroculus£»¡¡and¡¡crawling¡¡about¡¡on¡¡all¡¡fours£»¡¡rolled¡¡his¡¡goggle¡¡eyes¡¡and¡¡growled¡¡out¡¡he¡¡must¡¡have¡¡a¡¡little¡¡boy¡¡or¡¡girl¡¡to¡¡eat¡¡for¡¡his¡¡supper¡£

He¡¡looked¡¡so¡¡terrible¡¡that¡¡although¡¡they¡¡knew¡¡it¡¡was¡¡only¡¡a¡¡joke¡¡they¡¡were¡¡almost¡¡afraid¡¡of¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡ran¡¡away¡¡laughing¡¡and¡¡screaming¡¡to¡¡shelter¡¡themselves¡¡behind¡¡Nora¡¡or¡¡Owen£»¡¡but¡¡all¡¡the¡¡same£»¡¡whenever¡¡Philpot¡¡left¡¡off¡¡playing£»¡¡they¡¡entreated¡¡him¡¡to¡¡¡®be¡¡it¡¡again'£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡he¡¡had¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡on¡¡being¡¡a¡¡Pandroculus£»¡¡until¡¡exhaustion¡¡compelled¡¡him¡¡to¡¡return¡¡to¡¡his¡¡natural¡¡form¡£

After¡¡this¡¡they¡¡all¡¡sat¡¡round¡¡the¡¡

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