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So this is what all our fine ambitions have come to, Lexy, your music and my M.D. A place in a department store for you, and one in a lumber mill for me." "I don't dare to complain," said Alexina slowly. "We ought to be so thankful to get the positions. I am thankful. And I don't mind so very much about my music. But I do wish you could have gone to college, Stephen."
I think I'd rather spend it just like any other day and try to forget that it is Christmas. Everything would be so different." "That's true, Lexy. And we must look after the bawbees closely, I'll admit." When Stephen had gone out Alexina cried a little, not very much, because she didn't want her eyes to be red against Stephen's return. But she had to cry a little.
But she could not quite keep the alarm and excitement out of her voice as she called Stephen, and Stephen knew that something had gone wrong as he came quickly through the hall. "Is the turkey burned, Lexy?" he cried. "Burned! No, it's ten times worse," gasped Alexina. "It's gone gone, Stephen. And the pudding and the mince pies, too. Oh, what shall we do? Who can have taken them?"
"Capital! But I tell you what, Alexai... I may call you Alexai, may I not?" "Certainly, or Lexy if you like," Nejdanov added with a smile. "No; there is no need to overdo things. Listen. Good counsel is better than money, as the saying goes. I see that you have pamphlets. Distribute them wherever you like, only not in the factory on any account!" "Why not?"
Her separation from Stephen was the one point in their fortunes she could not bear to discuss. There were times when Alexina did not see how she was going to exist without Stephen. But she never said so to him. She thought he had enough to worry him without her making matters worse. "Well," said Stephen, getting up, "I'll run down to the office. And see here, Lexy. Day after tomorrow is Christmas.
The laird had the cup when he left him to call Dawtie; and when they came, it was nowhere! He was convinced the girl had secured it in obedience, doubtless, to the instruction of her director, ambitious to do justice, and curry favor by restoring it! But he could do nothing till the will was read! Was it possible Lexy had put it away? No; she had not had the opportunity!
She lifted the plum pudding and put it on a plate on the kitchen table; then she took out the turkey, beautifully done, and put it on a platter; finally, she popped the two mince pies into the oven. Just at this moment Stephen stuck his head in at the hall door. "Lexy, do you know where that letter of Governor Howland's to Father is? Uncle James wants to see it."
When they rose, Alexa looked formally solemn, but the wan face of her father shone: the Psyche, if not the Ego, had prayed and felt comfortable. He sat down, and looked fixedly, as if into eternity, but perhaps it was into vacancy; they are much the same to most people. "Come into the study for a moment, Lexy, if you please," he said, rising at length.
"But, father," interrupted Alexa, "how could we help it?" "He might have been carried elsewhere!" "With me standing there! Surely not, father! Even Andrew Ingram offered to receive him." "Why did he not take him then?" "The doctor wouldn't hear of it. And I wouldn't hear of it either." "It was ill-considered, Lexy. But what's done is done though, alas! not paid for."
This was not particularly lucid, but Josie, with a flying mental leap, arrived at the conclusion that it was very important that Uncle James, whoever he was, should have a dinner, and she knew where one was to be had. But before she could speak Stephen returned, looking rueful. "No use, Lexy. That man was only old Mr. Byers, and he had seen no signs of a tramp.
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