Even Kenny's inexhaustible energy and excitement seemed on the point of waning.

He stared drearily at the fireplace.
"It's cold in here," he said, shivering.
"Yes," said Joan, "we should have built a fire." "The fireplace!" cried Hughie hoarsely.
"It's too late now," said Kenny irritably.

"I'm chilled through." "No, no, Mr.O'Neill, I'm not meaning the fire.

It's the one place we haven't looked." "It won't hurt none to look, Mr.O'Neill," urged Hannah, who knew that Kenny's energy was subject to undependable ebb and now.

"If Hughie goes out of here with that fireplace on his mind, he'll dream all night about it." Kenny strode to the fireplace with Hughie at his heels and jerked impatiently at the mantel.