"You know, my dear, that the last time you went to the opera house it was a gala occasion, and you regretted that you didn't have a really nice fan to carry?
Dick remembered that, and he got you a fan.

It was a handsome one.

I didn't believe that a young boy could have as much taste as our son displayed in choosing that fan.

And now--it isn't here!" Then each tried to cheer the other up, but despite their best efforts it started in as a gloomy Christmas morning.

The Prescotts, while not by any means poverty stricken, were yet in very moderate circumstances.
Dick knew well enough that his parents would not be able to duplicate his much-wanted Christmas gift, and that he would have to wait until some dim time in the future before he could hope to carry a watch of his own.
So all three went out to the breakfast table.