Remarks were heard like: "You mustn't poke it with, your finger, Jerry darling, or you'll break the hands off"; and "I thought he'd, better have the square sort, and not the tubes.

They're so squashy"; and "You'll be able to learn your Collect so easily with that big print, Jerry dear.

Very kind of you, Amy." Meanwhile he was aware that Uncle Samuel had given him nothing.

There was a little thick catch of disappointment in his throat, not because he wanted a present, but because he liked Uncle Samuel.

Suddenly, from somewhere behind him his uncle said: "Shut your eyes, Jerry.