The Burglar and the Blizzard: A Christmas Story

ey and Cecilia at work. Geoffrey, engaged in lighting the range-fire, looked up at her as she moved about filling the kettle and washing out pots and pans, and thought that he and

nd soup and sardines, a package of hominy, apples and potatoes in the cellar, and an old box of we

en his irritation against McVay and the triangular intercourse was

eaming pot in each hand, when McVay, without warning,

h a smut on your for

ellow--pra

er might be taken from him. The tone was alarming, and McVay sprang back ten f

ade me jump,

rey feared the incident had made

ey all expressed themselves as inordinately proud. There was canned soup, and sardines and toasted biscuits, canned

de of this nature, however, was distinctly emphasised. The better part of a quart of champagne had not produced any signs of into

to his feet, and leaning the tips of his

ferred to the fare as meagre, to our position as constrained, but believe me, I am not exaggerating when I say that I so little agree with you that I am confident that, during many of the remaining years of my life I shall look back to this C

gratefully, and

. I feel that it will be recommended to you more than mere worth could recommend it by the fact that it is peculiarly my own,-my own as few human

light Token, In

stic, so perfectly in keeping with McVay's consuming desire to triumph in minor matters, that he was able to smile pleasantly

actly why you should think Mr. Hollan

greatest service t

ou won't despise because it is not new. I mean I have worn it myself for some time, and I hope you will now, in remembrance of

such paroxysms of delight at the idea that Geoffrey was about to become a receiver of stolen goods that he could not well conceal it. And instinctively Geoffrey drew back his hand. The n

on the pencil, rose from the table, and left them to

e into the part of a waiter, tucked a napkin round his wai

hing to say to you. I see you are in possession of my sentiments in regard to y

ly, Holland. S

ression that this will do you some good. Well, it won't. You stand just where

" he said, "I don't see how, if you

such a brother as

y, "how many men would have sacrificed what I h

any, I

aordinarily

he has not any one

that now," returned

iscuss it

u are in love with my sister and m

exactl

d never fo

to give and presently McVay, who had been grumbling over

the work of clearing the table. He was very silent and abstracted and for the first ti

y. I am going to give y

ipe!

ster something, and I think she

a matter of fact I was the person to be offended, for I had given her the pe

. I don't want to know. Come and get

ully. "I think I'll take that lar

best pipe I own! No, indeed, you'll take a horrid littl

I can do it, Holland." His little eyes gleamed at the thought. "I shall say, 'My dear fellow, I'm glad you changed your mind about the meerschaum; it was as yo

reluctantly agreed to part with his favourite pipe. The affair went off well. McVay affected to h

unable to think of any way of getting rid of him except murder or the cedar-closet. His anxiety was rendered more acute by the fact that

d that McVay should take her

p with alacrity, and was at the door before

for your sister,"

Let me," replied

r of it," ret

outside of the door, and Geo

ould you?" he

into an irrational confusion, "this is exactly a case in point. I

r?" said

ed. Yes, and I doubt if I should have acted differently if yo

arned y

my telling you,-that you have a v

g when Geoffrey stopped, with his eyes on the

play?"

s," he answered, "I can. Well, I'm not a professional, you understand, but for an amat

d Holland. "There is a piano. Si

not do. No artist would. Ask any one. It is impossible to play in publ

an play finger exercises for all I care. All I insist is th

musician could sit down after a year ... however, I dare say it will come back to

make allowances for, and that is

osers was about to inspire him. Then he dropped lightly upon the notes, lifting his chin, as if surprised to find that an air of Schubert's was growing under his fi

st be a great pleasure to him to have

to play as I to hav

oking down at her for a moment. Th

Christmas

none to

u h

hanged

hy

my brother. You refused the pencil-you did refuse it plainly enough-because Billy had given it to me. I will not offer it to you again. I know that

gree, turned with something like a groan, and resting his

e enough to see that it is only for my sake that he exercises so much self-control. He does not want to make my position here more unendurable by quarrelling with you. It makes me furious to se

hing?" he asked, without mo

us at your mercy, you are rich and fortunate, and as insolent as

is eyes she looked down and probably in the instant forgot all that she had been saying and feeling, for when