The Upas Tree: A Christmas Story for all the Year

eturned to consciousness, was of

y; he had some difficulty

, a moment later, Aubrey Treherne, lying back in the

ectedly. You were trying, in a sleepy fashion, to tell me how you came to

n silence at hi

better for

out," said Ro

poured something into a gla

boy. It will s

odour, fragrant; but otherwise, for augh

k careful note of

leaned forward and twanged the strings

your tuning-fork?"

y had exp

just now. I gave away mine last week.

w to tune a 'cel

gested Aubrey, with th

w out the 'cello stop, sounded a

carefully tuned the four stri

up the pegs-so. The

e to your lip?" sa

bent to stoke it with my fingers, for

d a much-stain

bow. Do you mind if I just pass the bow across the strings? After each string is perfectly tuned to a piano or organ, you must make them vibrate together in

ded the strings, singly and together. The beautiful

afraid that is all I must attempt. I only play the fiddle. I might di

er his forehead. "When di

at we should not discuss

, I have had the most viv

e, when it is over. You suffer all its horrors again, in the telling.

ndon early the following morning. I shall go to my club, s

d Grange?" in

it me there. But why do you call it

ew tired of waiting. They do, sometimes, you know! I believe her grange was moated. All granges should be moated; just as al

tay with us," said R

ghted. Has Helen kept we

uld, but there was a beastly long time wh

ance on his thin face, and began plunging his

; but owing to my absorption in the Infant, I clean forg

stove, hunting vaguely, but

, watching him w

now how long her letter had remained

e foreign envelope-safely stowed away in his poc

s writing Zimmermann's cheque. You will excuse me if I read

Infant now being thoroughly in tune, your mind is free to spare a thought or two

sheets from the envel

among them unseen by Ronnie, and dropp

d before his eyes, and Helen's beautiful cl

cleared a little an

d, a short, rather

inquired Au

from the paper. "What a nuisance it is to own that kind of name. As a small boy I was always 'Ronnie' when

sympathetically. "Beastly hard li

ce more the black spots danced in a wild sho

a great difference to this Christmas, and to all Christmas-times to come. I wi

be?" questi

t Christmas, and objects to her old people being given champagne and other seasonable good things. I have heard-heard it-all before. There was no

said Aubre

on reading

n the folded sheet o

e I wrote some weeks ago. Ronnie, we will have a Christmas-tree this Christmas.' Well, I never!" said Ronnie. "That's not a very wild thing in the way of extravagance, is it? But it's a concession. I have wanted a Christmas-tree e

movement, Aubrey put h

e, and tearing open the envelope. "She has forgotten it, after all.

owed second thoughts. Even Helen would scarcely pu

reed Ronnie, and walked

rred the note from beneat

er through again, th

know whether I wish her to meet me in town, or whether I

Think it over," he said

ft th

time in find

his face was livi

orbed contemplati

y time one sees it," he remar

rm for foreign telegra

say to-to your wife?" h

vaguely. "What a jolly pen!

ether she is to meet you in t

ou advise, Treherne? I don

ecidedly, let her wa

hing around in town. I can get home

ory news in letter, prefer to me

at Aubrey's dictat

perplexed at the words

uite well. Isn't tha

ourse. I

add: Will wire t

nie. "I have been thinking of it for wee

: Coming by 3 o'cloc

oyous smile on his

said. "After seven long

ll take it out for you. I know an office

fellow," said Ro

ught me merciful oblivion, after long nights of maddening wakefulness. You will feel another man, when you wake in the morning. But I am coming with you to the Hague. I can tend the Infant, while you go to the publish

e will-will-will be so-so grateful. I'm perfectly all right, you know; but other people seem so-so bus

would provide a bassinet. Don't forget that joke. It will amuse Helen. I make you a present

en, carrying the 'cello, he lurched unsteadily throu

the telegram. He requir

s: Owing to astonishing news in letter prefer to meet you quietly

e different. The adjective "astonishing" seemed strangely cold and unlike Ronn

r feeling about the publicity of telegrams. She had so often scolded him for putting "darling" and "best of love" into messages which all had to be shouted by telephone

ng words he must have longed to pour forth. The very effort of

was drawing so near. Only two more breakfasts without him. At the third she would be pour

y heart, she went

ously-the pa